A method for sharing Internet protocol television IPTV content, comprising: receiving, by a content sharing application server, a request message that is sent by a first terminal and comprises a third terminal identifier, wherein the request message is used for an instruction of providing a third terminal, which corresponds to the third terminal identifier, with IPTV content that is being played by a second terminal; obtaining, by the content sharing application server, identification information of the IPTV content that is being played by the second terminal, wherein the identification information comprises: a content identifier, a channel identifier, or a multicast address; and providing, by the content sharing application server and according to the identification information, the third terminal with the IPTV content that is being played by the second terminal; wherein the providing, by the content sharing application server and according to the identification information, the third terminal with the IPTV content that is being played by the second terminal comprises: sending, by the content sharing application server, a request message that comprises the identification information of the IPTV content that is being played by the second terminal to an IP multimedia system gateway of the third terminal, so that the IP multimedia system gateway sends a notification message that comprises the identification information to an open IPTV terminal function of the third terminal, and the open IPTV terminal function obtains, from an IPTV content providing module according to the identification information, the IPTV content that is being played by the second terminal. receiving, by a content sharing application server, a request message that is sent by a first terminal and comprises a third terminal identifier, wherein the request message is used for an instruction of providing a third terminal, which corresponds to the third terminal identifier, with IPTV content that is being played by a second terminal; obtaining, by the content sharing application server, identification information of the IPTV content that is being played by the second terminal, wherein the identification information comprises: a content identifier, a channel identifier, or a multicast address; and providing, by the content sharing application server and according to the identification information, the third terminal with the IPTV content that is being played by the second terminal; wherein the providing, by the content sharing application server and according to the identification information, the third terminal with the IPTV content that is being played by the second terminal comprises: sending, by the content sharing application server, a request message that comprises the identification information of the IPTV content that is being played by the second terminal to an IP multimedia system gateway of the third terminal, so that the IP multimedia system gateway sends a notification message that comprises the identification information to an open IPTV terminal function of the third terminal, and the open IPTV terminal function obtains, from an IPTV content providing module according to the identification information, the IPTV content that is being played by the second terminal. sending, by the content sharing application server, a request message that comprises the identification information of the IPTV content that is being played by the second terminal to an IP multimedia system gateway of the third terminal, so that the IP multimedia system gateway sends a notification message that comprises the identification information to an open IPTV terminal function of the third terminal, and the open IPTV terminal function obtains, from an IPTV content providing module according to the identification information, the IPTV content that is being played by the second terminal.