Also called: Mbps, Stream bitrate.
A stream’s bitrate rises with resolution and with how much is moving on screen — a football match needs more data than a news studio. Your internet connection has to deliver at least the stream’s bitrate, with headroom for other devices, for playback to stay smooth.
Because bitrate is per stream, the needs of every screen in the house add up: two Full HD streams and one 4K stream at the same time need roughly the total of all three, plus room for phones and other devices.
For comparison, the Netflix Help Center lists 3 Mbps for HD, 5 Mbps for Full HD and 15 Mbps for 4K. Live IPTV generally benefits from more headroom than on-demand services because it cannot buffer far ahead.
How does Bitrate apply to FORTTV4K?
FORTTV4K streams HD, Full HD and 4K where available; the speed guide explains how much bandwidth each needs.
Common questions about Bitrate
What bitrate do I need for 4K?
Streaming services generally recommend at least 15 Mbps per 4K stream, and live TV benefits from extra headroom because it cannot buffer far ahead.
Is a higher bitrate always better?
A higher bitrate gives more detail at the same resolution, but only if your connection can sustain it. If it cannot, the stream buffers, and a lower quality setting plays more smoothly.
For background and history, see Bitrate on Wikipedia.