Downloading films via broadband

Downloading films has become a popular pastime for many Britons. When it comes to downloading films, as with music, the download speed of your broadband is integral to your experience.

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Film buffs no longer need to queue up at their local cinema or brave the elements visiting a video shop - they can now download films directly to their PC or laptop. Additionally, with prices ranging from 79p to £2.99 per film, downloading is more affordable than either buying or renting through conventional avenues.

What is downloading?

Wikipedia defines downloading as ‘transfer of electronic data between two computers or similar systems’. This can refer to anything from music, video and photos as well as documents and software for your computer.

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Download speeds

When it comes down to it, your broadband speed is the difference between downloading an average film in minutes or hours. The average film is 700Mb in size and should therefore take approximately 45 minutes to download based on a 2Mb download speed, or less than 5 minutes with a faster connection of 20-24Mb.

However, downloading films often takes a great deal longer than expected, with a 90 minute film sometimes taking longer to download than to watch. Downloading films is therefore something that should be planned in advance as opposed to an "on a whim" decision. It's a good idea to avoid downloading movies during times of peak demand. This usually defined between 7 and 10pm on weeknights.

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What do I need to start downloading?

First of all a PC, Mac or laptop with internet connection is a pre-requisite, you will also need plenty of space on your hard drive. When you've got these essentials in order, the internet is your oyster when it comes to choosing which site to download from.

Where to download?

iTunes is a popular choice for film buffs looking to watch films on their iPods or laptops. Additionally, Channel 4's On Demand service, 4OD, offers a user-friendly way to download both TV programs and films for free or at a small cost.

ISPs also increasingly offer downloading services on their websites. BT Vision offers film downloads for as little as £0.89. And, if you like the idea of having your own copy to keep, you can have one sent out to your house too.

The future of downloading films

The advent of super-fast fibre optic broadband promises to allow consumers to download movies faster than ever before. Currently, the sole provider offering fibre optic broadband is Virgin Media, whose service offers speeds of up to 50Mb and is available to 12.6 million homes across the UK.

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