PPLive, free TV on internet

The issue of free TV via internet has broken out in Italy as a consequence of the interview Beppe Grillo (one of the most famous italians blogger) gave to La Repubblica, during which the comic mentioned the site CoolStreaming.it as an example of free TV on internet.

Coolstreaming supplies a small programme which, once installed, provides connection to a great amount of worldwide TVs. The software supplied by Coolstreaming only groups links to many TVs sending their signal to internet. One could think there is no big innovation in this, but actually the Mainstream (traditional media) never worried about this kind of information.

Every single day a large number of information about the network, internet and new technologies appear, but nobody ever cared to give some more info on a subject so interesting to public opinion. Well, the reason of this odd amnesia could be that, something that is charged is already available on the net and for free!

PPlive v 1.0.9.4

It is not by chance that one of most popular programmes to watch TV via internet is a software developed in China called PP Live, at present available only for Windows, whose 1.0.9.4 version has been recently released. This is the link to the English site

This software is supplied in 2 languages, Chinese and English, even if some texts such as the name of some channels are not translated from Chinese in the English version. Many of the sport events in Italy are paid for, can be watched for free on the channels provided by PPLive as well as sport events of others countries. These channels obviously have the broadcasting rights in their own geographical jurisdiction but, clearly enough, in internet borders and geography do not mean much. Thus, by sending the streaming signal in the network, everybody can follow these events.

How it works

The PPLive set up file has a size of 1.6 Mb; once installed the programme icon appears on Windows taskbar. By double-clicking it, a small interface is open, with the video on the left side and a list of channels, many of which with indecipherable names, on the right. In order to open a channel, one has just to double-click on its name, wait for PPlive to connect to the streaming and preload, and the video will start. We tested some of them and, honestly, have been struck by the image quality, considering that the signal is a streaming via internet and underlining anyway that, in order to get a satisfying image quality, it would be better to support a streaming of at least 300k, that is to have a good connection supported by a good modem.

Channels and events

Obviously many, most of the channels are Chinese or from East Asia, but some of them have the rights to broadcast events which here are charged and, anyway, also programmes in many other languages are provided.

Where to download the programme from.

On CoolStreaming.it it is possible to download the most common PPLive version, while the new version is available for download at PPLIVE 1.0.9.4 Official Release