Before you buy an IPTV subscription: a 10-point checklist

Why a checklist matters here

IPTV is a market with very low barriers to entry. Anyone can buy a reseller panel on a Tuesday and have a website live by Thursday. The difference between a provider who will still be answering messages in six months and one who will not is usually visible before you pay, if you know what to look for.

The ten questions

1. Will you give me a trial? A no here is the end of the conversation.
2. Do you carry this specific channel? Name one. Vague answers are a warning.
3. What happens if a stream goes down at kick-off? Listen for a process, not a promise.
4. Is there a written refund policy? Ask for the page, not a reassurance.
5. Does it auto-renew? It should not, and you should not need to cancel anything.
6. How do I contact you at 11pm on a Sunday? The answer should be a real channel.
7. How many devices does my plan cover at once? Get the number in writing.
8. Can I move my line to a new device later? Some providers charge for this.
9. What happens to my details? A provider with a privacy policy has thought about it.
10. What do you not carry? The most revealing question on this list.

Red flags worth walking away from

• A price far below everyone else, with no explanation.
• Reviews that all appeared in the same week and read alike.
• Pressure to pay immediately in a way that cannot be reversed.
• No refund policy anywhere on the site.
• A provider who claims to carry absolutely everything, everywhere, always.

And one thing in their favour

If a provider tells you honestly that they do not carry something, or that your internet connection is not fast enough for what you want, take it as a good sign. It is a great deal easier to promise everything than to keep a customer who was told the truth first.