Watching Films with Tiscali Cinema
Tiscali Cinema offers three different options for watching your films: streaming, download and so-called 'progressive download'. To find out which is best for you, read on!

Streaming Movies
Our films are available in two different streaming versions: 256 kbps for customers with a broadband connection of at least 200 Kbps and 512 kbps for customers with a broadband connection of at least 350 Kbps. Streaming is recommended for all users with broadband connection.

Pros

Streaming technology allows you to watch the film in real time without having to wait for the whole movie to download. It should take a few seconds for the film to start playing.

The film does not take up any space on your computer.

Cons

The quality of the picture depends on the quality of your internet connection.

If a problem arises that reduces your download speed (the amount of network bandwidth available) it can have a dramatic effect on the quality of the picture.

Downloading Movies
Downloading movies is recommended to users whose network performance is variable. If your connection often slows down, you will get a better quality playback by downloading the movie first.

Pros

Movie files available for download have higher quality video and audio than those designed for streaming.

Network connection problems do not affect the quality of the movie playback.

Once the download has finished the file sits on your computer and is available at any time (subject to the film's licence).

The downloadable movies are in standard PAL resolution optimised for viewing on TV. Many modern PCs have a 'TV Out' socket allowing you to watch your videos on a compatible TV using a standard S-video cable.

Cons

Downloading can take between 2 and 6 hours with a fast broadband connection (depending in connection speed and film duration).

To store the film on your computer (subject to licence) you will need up to 900MB of free disk space.

Progressive Download
Progressive downloads are recommended only to customers who have a reliable high speed broadband connection of 512kbps or higher.

Pros

You can watch the film while it's being downloading (after a short initial wait).

Once the download has finished, the movie file will remain on your computer and is available to watch again at any time (subject to licence).

The downloadable movies are in high quality PAL resolution which is ideal for watching on your TV. Many modern computers and TVs can be connected using a standard S-video cable.

Cons

To download a movie you will need up to 900MB free disk space on your computer (depending on the length of the film).

Before the movie can start playing on your PC, you will need to wait between 30 minutes and 1 hour for the first part to download.

If your connection drops and your download fails, you will need to start the download again. You will not need to buy a new licence if your current one has not been activated.