But only recently has advancing technology made TV more than just an expensive entertainment service for guests. With the proliferation of broadband Internet connections, the Internet is becoming the predominant channel for delivering TV content. TV Not only do the devices provide a whole new experience for guests, but they also represent an amazing new opportunity for hotels to reach their customers directly and communicate their services to them.
A shorter version of the blog "SMART TV in Hospitality TV projects".
There are two ways to use the enhanced capabilities of so-called Internet Protocol Television (or IPTV) in hotels. Either through a separate device, the so-called IPTV set-top box (STB IPTV), which is connected to the TV, or through a so-called Smart TV, which already has the IPTV functionality built in.
At first glance, smart TV seems to be the better solution. It eliminates the need to find a place for a separate IPTV set-top box and connect it to a TV device, and is therefore easier to set up and overall more elegant. This is especially true if the TV box is to be hidden behind the TV screen, which, by increasing the required distance between the wall and the screen, compromises the aesthetic benefits of modern, increasingly thin TV devices. This makes Smart TV a compelling option especially for environments where multiple TV devices need to be installed, such as public halls, hotels, etc.
However, the need to install and maintain multiple TV devices is exactly the case where a solution based on a dedicated IPTV set-top box might prove to be the better choice. The main reason for this is that the IPTV field is still rapidly evolving and more and more IPTV content sources are becoming available. Since virtually every smart TV manufacturer deploys its own IPTV solution, which limits the availability of IPTV content from the outset, there is a high probability that the integrated IPTV functions of a given smart TV device will be completely obsolete before its life cycle of eight to ten years is over. This leads to replacement costs that can be considerable, e.g., in hotels with several TV devices.
Features | Set Top Box | SMART TV |
Choice of TV models | any TV model | Limited only to SMART models |
Control over OS | full remote access | Limited or not available |
Centralized support | fully supported | Limited or not available |
Logs and diagnostic | remotely collectible | Limited or not available |
DRM availability | popular DRM available, easy to implement new DRM | Limited to SMART TV vendor’s choice |
Convergence | Require more cables to connect STB to TV | Fewer cables, an all-in-one device |
New features | any TV model | Limited only to SMART models |
4K support | full support | Limited or not available |
UI performance | Without noticeable delay | May show delay |
Ease of management | Same management tools for different models | Each model requires a different approach |
Bug fixing | STB firmware is constantly updated and easy to fix | Proprietary software hard to fix or update |
Integration with 3rd Party Solutions | fully available | Limited or not available |
This sheet displays some pros and cons of STB and SMART TV client devices.
STB IPTV on the other hand, they cope much better with the developing IPTV sector. Unlike smart TVs, they are usually not tied to proprietary solutions and can therefore offer a wider range of IPTV content from the outset. And if a particular TV box becomes obsolete or stops working due to a defect, it is more convenient and much cheaper to replace just the box than to replace the entire TV device, as would be the case with smart TV.
Despite the advantages of smart TVs with integrated IPTV solutions, dedicated IPTV set-top boxes not only offer better performance in delivering IPTV content to the user, but also future-proof flexibility at a price that no existing or currently planned smart TV TV TV TV can offer.
To make a proper decision about the Hospitality TV solution, you are invited to contact a Nevron IPTV consultant. Both Hospitality TV solutions will be presented to you. The advantages and disadvantages of both solutions will be discussed in detail so that you can fully understand them. Please email nevron@nevron.eu