How to download film and TV

Q: What if I want to watch my downloaded film / TV programme on a TV screen rather than my computer monitor?

A: BT Vision offers some good advice on this: If your TGV hasn't got a VGA input, check that your PC has an S-Video output and then all you need to buy is a PC to TV cable kit which you can pick up for about £25. For optimized sound, you should connect your PC sound card output to your TV, stereo or existing PC speaker system.

Q:Where can I legally download music?

A: A list of sites where you can safely and legally download music can be found on www.pro-music.org

Q: What technical requirements does my computer need to download films and TV series?

A: Firstly make sure you have sufficient space on your hard drive on which to store your films (500MB - 1GB should be ok), and you'll also need a sound card and speakers or headphones. We recommend you use a broadband internet connection to ensure quick and smooth downloading. Check with the website you are using to verify which version of Windows you need.

Q: Will the films and TV programmes I download be good quality?

A: You can often choose to download high quality or super high quality films, but bear in mind that super high quality purchases will take up more room on your hard drive. As a rule of thumb, high quality films tend to be equivalent to VHS video quality, while super high quality is on a par with DVD quality. If you buy a film or TV programme to burn onto a DVD you should expect full DVD resolution and quality. Check with the sites you register with to find out whether you get bonus DVD features.

Video on Demand

New technology means that there are increasing numbers of ways to access films and TV programmes. One of these is video on demand (VOD), a service being offered by a number of different companies, some who also offer downloads. VOD caters for those users who may not wish to own a film or TV episode, but rather watch it once.

Companies offering this service include Channel 4, Virgin Media and Sky. (NB BBC iPlayer still in development).