Network PVR (nPVR) and catch-up TV are essential features for any IPTV service competing with OTT platforms. Viewers expect to watch what they want, when they want. nPVR allows subscribers to schedule recordings of future programs, while catch-up TV provides automatic access to recently aired content — typically the last 7-30 days. Both features use network-based recording, eliminating the need for local STB hard drives.
nPVR vs Catch-Up TV
- nPVR (Network PVR): Subscriber-initiated recordings stored in the cloud. The viewer selects a program from the EPG and records it — similar to a traditional DVR but hosted on the operator network. Subscribers have personal recording libraries with indefinite retention.
- Catch-Up TV: Operator-managed recording of all content on eligible channels. Viewers can browse the EPG backward (typically 7-30 days) and play any past program without having scheduled a recording. No subscriber action required.
- Start-Over: Allows viewers to restart a currently airing program from the beginning. Useful when tuning in mid-show.
- Pause Live TV: Pauses the live stream and creates a time-shifted buffer, allowing the viewer to resume at their own pace.
Storage Architecture
Time-shifted viewing generates massive storage requirements. A 200-channel operator recording all channels for 30 days needs approximately 500TB-1PB of storage. Optimization strategies include: shared recording (one copy serves all subscribers instead of per-user copies), intelligent retention (automatically deleting unwatched recordings after a configurable period), tiered storage (moving older recordings from SSD to HDD to object storage), and compression optimization (using HEVC/AV1 for recordings to reduce file sizes by 40-50%).
Content Rights Management
Not all content can be recorded or time-shifted. Content licensing agreements specify recording rights, catch-up windows, and geographic restrictions per channel and per program. MwareTV TVMS enforces these rights automatically: channels flagged as non-recordable are excluded from nPVR, catch-up windows are enforced (content expires after the licensed period), and blackout rules prevent playback during restricted periods.
How MwareTV Powers Time-Shifted Viewing
MwareTV TVMS includes built-in nPVR and catch-up TV capabilities. The platform manages recording schedules, storage allocation, rights enforcement, and viewer-facing APIs automatically. Catch-up content is linked to EPG entries for seamless discovery. nPVR recordings appear in subscriber personal libraries accessible from any device. The system supports configurable retention periods, storage quotas per subscriber, and series-linked recordings.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much storage does catch-up TV require?
A 100-channel operator with 7-day catch-up needs approximately 50-100TB of storage. With HEVC encoding and shared recording, this can be reduced by 40-60%.
Can all channels have catch-up TV?
Content licensing agreements determine which channels support catch-up. MwareTV enforces per-channel recording rights automatically based on content agreements configured by the operator.
