Download Video
On Windows: right click to bring up a dialog box with the browser asking where it should save the file. On IE, this is "Save Target As", on Firefox it is "Save Link As". On Mac: control click.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Save a video completely to your hard disk before attempting playback. Do not attempt to watch the the video using the download method (not saving the file completely first). Use the streaming option to play/watch a video online. If you attempt to watch a video from the download "SAVE" buttons, you will not be utilizing the server resources required for smooth streaming. You will likely experience buffering and choppy playback. Most members with playback problems are attempting to watch a video provisioned as a download. For MP4 on your iPod/iPhone: download then sync with iTunes.

Streaming Video
You should have DSL or a Cable Modem to stream video properly.

Streaming video is offered as either .WMV or .ASF/.ASX. This means your computer and browser should be configured associating ASF and ASX files to play with Windows Media Player. For most users, this is the standard default setting. If you have added other players, such as real player, divx, or others, the install process of these applications may attempt to hijack your default settings and establish themselves as the new default player for different types of media, and a source of most of the problems if you cannot properly play a stream. A re-install of Windows Media Player usually takes care of this. You may also choose to check your file type associations to be sure Windows Media player is properly associated to play files with .ASF and .ASX extensions.

Poor sound/video quality, excessive buffering, and/or delays in connectivity can be a result of many factors. It could be our streaming provider server is overtaxed, although this is highly unlikely. Why? We utlize Level3 Content Delivery Network, which delivers the videos from multiple redundant geographic locations on a very high speed network, with capacity beyond what we could provide on our own servers. More likely, it may be the result of stressed or strained bandwidth anywhere on the path between Level3 and your computer One fast thing to check is to ensure you are not running other applications in the background (streaming music, downloads etc) which are consuming your available bandwith.

A free, fast test is available from speedtest.net to help determine if you have a bandwidth constraint. Run a test to Washington DC (where our servers are located), take note of the DOWNLOAD KBPS speed. Users with 5000kbps, typical of a home cable modem connection, achieve superior streaming playback. Lower bandwidth (KBPS) will work, although significantly less than 5000 KBPS will likely be a constraint on your streaming performance. If this is your situation, you may find downloading the video to be a better option.

Most titles released between May 2007 and February 2009 have an adaptive and high definition stream available. Videos produced before this date were not produced with the higher definition cameras in use today and will render in a lesser resolution. Releases in March 2009 and later will be offered as WMV stream. In the near future, we will be offering a Flash stream.

Wireless
Videos will play over wireless connections. However wireless connections are less predictable and are prone to environmental conditions. Wireless connections add network overhead, particularly if you are using WEP or other types of encryption on your home wireless connection. This overhead can cause video streaming or downloading to slow down. Interference may result in a dropped connection thereby interupting a stream or an in-progress download. You may find better results using a hard-wired direct connection using ethernet cable to your modem versus wireless.

Browser Cache
Occasionally, file names may change and file or directory locations on the site may change. Your browser may store in cache old files or locations. One of the first things to do if you are receiving errors related to not locating something is to clear the browser cache.

Antivirus
On rare occasions, members have indicated that antivirus software has interfered with playing videos, and when disabled, the problem disapears. You may want to try this to see if your antivirus software/configuration is the source of the conflict.

Firefox
Streaming video using Firefox? Try using the MediaPlayerConnectivity Plug in. Some members have reported that Firefox does not properlty handle the streaming video file without this plug in.

Computer Requirements
For the best video experience, we recommend at minimum: PC: Windows XP/Penium 4 2.0Ghz CPU/256MB RAM/32MB Video card. MAC: Mac G4 running OSX 10.2.8, 1.5Ghz CPU, 256MB RAM. Most computers purchased over the last few years exceed these requirements. If you are having a problem with streaming video or a download, it is most likely related to the internet connection, not the speed of your computer.

Browser Requirements
Microsoft Internet Explorer 7 or Firefox 3 are highly recommended. Microsoft Internet Explorer 6, Firefox 2 and Safari 3 will also work. Firefox users take note of the MediaPlayerConnectivity Plug in available on the Mozilla website.

Windows PCs and Macs
The videos, and the website, have been optimized for Windows PCs using Windows Media Player (WMP) 11. Older versions of WMP will work, but are not recommended. We strongly encourage you to use Windows Media Player 11 to stream videos or play the downloadable WMV videos. Members with MACs have good results using Quicktime to play the MOV files or by using Flip4Mac to play and enjoy the downloadable WMV video.

If you would like further assistance, please use the help request form and give us a few details about the problem you are experiencing.