IPTV offers need to be crisp and crunchy. Television is not a service that is something new and IPTV at the end of the day is another method of delivering. It is not a service like mobile that will sell like hot cakes. Operators need to really motivate people to subscribe to it.

Apart from the technology advancements (that mainly motivates operators), the end users need to get something interesting from IPTV. The content cannot be the winner alone. Television content is owned by different entertainment channels and they will never like to be aligned with a particular IPTV service or services. Similarly, it cannot happen that some channels will be available over IPTV service only. As far as service delivery mechanism goes, IPTV is more like DTH services – has similar EPG, features, interactivity, etc.

IPTV service providers have to think of innovative things to make their offer attractive. One service that came to mind is giving these IPTV channels a local competitive edge. With so many international channels available over any television network, we have become Hyperopic. We are well aware of the international issues that affect us indirectly or distantly but remain little aware of the things around, very close to us.

IPTV operators can play a role here that will also give them a differentiation. A service similar to Qik (that allows sharing of video from mobiles over Internet) can integrate mobiles and an IPTV service. By such a service, the subscribers can share videos from mobiles or even their digicams over their IPTV service. This can be shared over a community channel offered through IPTV. The channel will share the content from the residents of an area, county or a city. Further, it could also have an update feed based on the SMS content provided by residents. That way it will be a news by people for people.