IPTV Australia: A Guide for Australian Viewers

IPTV in Australia works the same way as anywhere else: TV channels are streamed over your broadband to an app on your TV, stick or phone. What's specific to Australia is the NBN, the mix of licensed local streaming services, wide time-zone differences and the country's copyright rules. This guide covers what to know before you choose a service.

Licensed ways to watch internet TV in Australia

Australia has a strong line-up of licensed streaming options that already count as internet-delivered TV:

• Free broadcaster apps — ABC iview, SBS On Demand and the commercial networks' apps stream live channels and catch-up.
• Subscription services — paid sport, entertainment and film services from Australian operators, available as apps.
• Free ad-supported channels — FAST channels built into many smart TVs and apps.

For a broader look at free options, see legal free IPTV.

NBN and broadband speed

Most Australian homes connect through the NBN, with plans sold by speed tier. For IPTV, the rough per-stream guide is:

Add the streams together for a busy household and test in the evening, when NBN congestion is most likely. Fixed wireless and satellite NBN can be less consistent for live TV. Our internet speed guide explains how to test properly.

Distance and server location

Many Australians look for IPTV to watch channels from the UK, Europe or Asia. The further a stream travels, the more latency it picks up, which can mean slower channel changes and more sensitivity to congestion. A service hosted overseas can still work well, but test it on your own connection at peak time before committing.

Time zones and the TV guide

Australia spans several time zones, and daylight saving applies in some states but not others. If programme times in your guide are wrong, set the device to your local time zone and use the app's EPG time-shift setting. When watching overseas channels, remember live events may air in the middle of the night. See how the IPTV guide works.

Devices

• Samsung and LG smart TVs with a compatible player app
• Android TV and Google TV televisions and boxes
• Amazon Fire TV Sticks
• Apple TV, iPhone and iPad
• Android phones, tablets and computers

Operator set-top boxes usually can't install third-party apps. Full compatibility details are on our devices page.

The legal side

IPTV is a legal technology, but content must be licensed. Australian copyright law applies to streaming, and the Federal Court can order internet providers to block overseas sites whose primary purpose or effect is to infringe copyright. Read is IPTV illegal in Australia? for a fuller explanation.

What to check before choosing a provider

1. Is there a free trial you can test at peak time?
2. Is billing one-time or recurring, and is there a refund policy?
3. Where are the servers, and how does that affect your connection?
4. Does the guide work in your time zone?
5. Are terms, privacy and refund policies published?

Our full IPTV buying checklist applies in Australia too.

Best IPTV UK and Australian viewers

Best IPTV UK is built for UK viewers and runs on a UK server, so it's designed around UK channels and UK connections. If you're in Australia and want to see how it performs on your line, please request a free trial first rather than buying a plan straight away.