Download TV programmes legally

The idea is that as you watch the early part of the video, the rest is downloading in the background.

As Youtube users will know, sometimes a slow internet connection means you catch up too soon, making the video stop and start. You can wait for the whole to download before pressing play, though.

People who are prepared to pay a little more for their on-demand programming might like to check out Apple’s iTunes store and the paid-for downloads available.

This launched in the US a year back and a selection of primarily American shows are now on offer. The good news is that ordering and downloading is simple; the bad news is that they can only be viewed using Apple’s iTunes software.

Keep to your limits
Downloading TV programmes seems appealing but you need to keep an eye on how much you download. Many internet service providers (ISPs) offer a capped service that limits the amount of data that can be downloaded.

Some ISPs that do cap services send a friendly warning if you regularly breach that limit, but some levy extra charges. Check your ISP’s terms before beginning to download lots of video. The best way to check your limits is to go to the ‘my account’ area of your ISP’s website and see what you have left or to call or email the customer support department ­ if you download a lot of music (for example) it will be less than if your needs are mostly surfing and email. Check whether there are any other packages that allow more downloading if you’re planning to watch a lot of TV online.

Trying to predict the future is, of course, difficult but it isn’t hard to see where TV-on-demand services are likely to go; independent broadcasters are going to have to work out a way of making money from the programmes, which will mean charges or advertising; whether the BBC is permitted to carry on offering free services is debatable. And we can’t imagine that commercial provider such as ITV will sit around while such services evolve. Don’t throw away your listings magazines yet ­ but look forward to more flexible TV viewing in future.

Your home cinema
It's not just TV programmes you can download over an internet connection. You can also download movies legally on a pay-per-view basis using services such as Vizumi and Lovefilm.

Sky offers movies, sporting events and general entertainment programmes to PC owners at http://anytime.sky.com. If you currently subscribe to Sky services then you can access the same premium packages online that are available on your TV. If not, you can pay a fee to access sports highlights.

Vizumi offers downloads for full purchase, so you can watch the film whenever you want while pay-per-view rentals can be watched up to seven days later. Beware, though, that the Vizumi website contains some 18-rated films suitable only for adults.