As the deployment of IPTV systems accelerate, the demand for international television channel distribution is increasing. Many IPTV systems are offering international programming channels as a way to differentiate IPTV systems from existing broadcast, CATV and satellite systems. While access to these channels may satisfy foreigners living in other countries, it opens up a significant number of potential challenges. These differences can include regulation, language variations, access control, time shifting, media formats, distribution types, advertising, content protection, usage tracking, and content licensing.

The availability of new distribution channels and desire for new content is leading to many new sources of programming. This is likely to upset the existing distribution structures and licensing agreements.

Regulatory Differences

Countries have different regulations for media broadcasters regarding violence, gambling, product placement, and adult content. The regulations can also vary between live, linear and on-demand programming. Because different systems can push or pull media in different ways, a precise definition of the differences between the types of programming is needed. Currently some of the media regulations are defaulting of the "country of origin" regulations. Eventually, content distributors and broadcasters may need to obtain audio/visual licenses from national authorities.

Language Variations

While international television channels may be primarily consumed by foreign nationals who want to obtain the programming in its original language, support for multiple languages may be necessary or required by regulatory agencies.

Program Access Controls

Program access controls are the processes that viewers must take to obtain access to content. Access controls are typically necessary for some types of content such as adult content or politically sensitive materials. Many industries have already taken self-regulatory initiatives to delay or reduce the impact of government regulations for access controls. Access controls may need to be applied to multiple channels of distribution such as a television broadcast that is delivery through radio broadcasting, cable television and web streaming.

Time Offset

Time offset is the different between the local broadcast time and the time in the country where the international program is being transmitted. The time offset can result in programs from one program time category (such as evening programming) being viewed in another country during time periods that may not be appropriate (such as daytime programming). To overcome the time offset, live programs may be offered in both live and on-demand formats.

Media Formats

Media formats are the signal type, resolution, screen size and other attributes associated with the media programs. There are several types of media formats that are used for different types of distribution channels such as broadcast, Internet and mobile video. While media formats can be converted to other formats by transcoders, not all conversion transcoding is the same and even well skilled technicians can incorrectly set conversion parameters resulting in poor quality media. 

Distribution Types

International programming may be distributed through several types of media communication systems including broadcast TV, mobile TV, satellite, CATV, IPTV, and Internet TV. Some broadcasters transmit their programming over multiple platforms. The distribution platform may require changes to the content which can change the creative component of the media (such as screen aspect ratio).

Advertising

While international television channels may be sold on a subscription basis, ad insertion can become the main revenue source for media broadcasters. To provide advertising services, broadcasters need to know the ad slots and have the ability to place local ad inserts into the media and they have to be able to sell advertising services. 

Content Protection

Content protection is the end-to-end system preventing content from being pirated or tampered with in a communication network (such as in a television system). The types of content protection systems and their security level can dramatically vary between broadcaster companies and distribution systems types. Content owners may limit the distribution of their media program to systems that have high levels of content protection.

Usage Tracking

Usage tracking is the recording of a quantity of service or material that is transferred over a period of time or between events. Usage tracking is important for ensuring the media distribution conform the licensing requirements and to provide revenue assurance for the content owner and content distributors. 

Content Licensing

A content license is a contract that grants specific rights to use of content. Content owner license restrictions commonly include geographic region, type of use and amount of use. 

Content licenses may be setup in printed form and may not have detailed requirements transferred to content distributors. This can lead to the accidental omission of some licensing restrictions (such as authorized media uses). Content licensing automation systems are evolving to simplify the licensing and to help reduce these potential conflicts.