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Comment by kw71 | Hacker News Reader

Well this isnt so much the case anymore with switched networks. This was a thing 10 years ago when I retired from broadcasting. Basically the headend sets up a video session for the program if someone in the area tunes to the channel. This is like vod streaming except more than one viewer can utilize the session/stream.

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I was going to mention this but didn't want to get too far into the weeds. My understanding was the the infrastructure rollout to Switched Video has slowed as providers look at leapfrogging to IP based solutions. Comcast's X1 platform can run IP based.

Hm, I always thought IP based solutions were worse, given my terrible experience with IPTV (Actual IPTV, over DSL on a different VPI/VCI number)... + they can track your viewing habits...

Like I said above I retired from this business a decade ago but I have a hunch that IP is going to be a better experience over docsis or any other broadband link. I don't see much complaining from fios/uverse customers, and I worked independently on a metro WAN iptv development in moscow, which worked pretty well when the residents had fast-ethernet connections, once we got the infrastructure to handle all the multicast traffic.

IPTV like what Centurylink Prism offers is a really good experience. Extremely fast channel switching, live previews of the last couple channels you were on, and a decent UI made for a good experience.

I have yet to find another IPTV provider that offers tthe first two features mentioned, despite it being possible with ddecade old technology running WinCE (in Centurylink's case).

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