When setting up a network for IPTV, you typically want to segment/separate the network via VLAN. Primary you want to use high powered GE switches (i.e Cisco Catalyst 3850 or 6850) in order to handle the high bandwidth traffic that IPTV produces (3Mbps-15Mbps) per channel. You can always groom or trans-rate (aka lower bit rate) every channel with a transcoder, but thats for another topic/discussion. Depending on the size of the network/distribution tree you want to have in place a RP (Rendezvous Point) to control the traffic; including implementing PIM-SM and IGMP snooping. You typically want to also avoid many network configurations to provoke collisions, packet loss and/or flooding. This includes, mis-configuration of firewall and Vlans, avoid Port mirroring, avoid using non-IGMP snooping switches and HUBS/dummy swithces.
