Multicast IP-TV from UNINETT - information

UNINETT offers multicast IP-TV via the research network. This solution is not very capacity demanding, and offers high quality without time delay. Anyone affiliated with the national research and education network can make use of this offer. The concept is under continuous development.

How to get started

Click to watch TV

If you're connected to the Norwegian research and education network, you should be able to use this service. Check whether your institution has a connection in our membership map. Check your campus network for multicast compatibility. Run multicast test. If this test fails, look to our FAQ. In addition you'll need a video player that handles multicast streaming. One free, open source player is VLC.

Multicast IP-TV - how does it work?

Multicast IP-TV is TV via the Internet, where content is streamed to your IP-address. You can watch TV on your computer, record the stream, and play the recordings later. Because multicast transmits to group addresses, as opposed to unicast that transmits one packet to each recipient, it has the advantages of better capacity utilization and higher quality without time delay.

Open channels

For several years UNINETT has transmitted the Norwegian national channels NRK 1, 2 and 3, as well as Stortinget (the parliament) live, in cooperation with Østfold University College. Now, we also collaborate with the other major network in Norway, TV2, who are offering all their channels via multicast. Several resarch networks are testing multicast, and some test channels from American and European research organizations are available.

Commercial IP-TV

UNINETT has engaged a development agreement with Workzone regarding multicast IP-TV. Workzone will also be able to offer subscriptions for commercial channels, both on campus and to student lodgings.

Further development

In the near future it will be possible to create a dedicated university channel in the research network. Possible content may be selected international programmes, programmes produced by the sector itself, and live transmissions from conferences and other events.

We also collaborate with TV2 on a solution to transmit all their channels in a general IP network. In this collaboration we use different multicast transmission methods, like ASM and SSM for IPv4 and IPv6. SSM is fairly new, and offers a more secure multicast service, amongst other things.

We are working on a solution for recording and playing back multicast transmissions. This will require autorization because of distribution rights and will most likely use FEIDE.

Multicast IP-TV is a focus area for UNINETT, with a host of development activities. Get further information on multicast in UNINETT (in Norwegian).

Piloting participation

Please contact us if you are interested in IP-TV and want to contribute and participate. You have the opportunity to become part of a pilot project.

Both producers and consumers of programmes are welcome!