When you watch听a programme online, either live or on demand, this is known as streaming.
Downloading is saving the programme听to your device temporarily听and watching it when you're not connected to the internet.听
Streaming programmes
Streaming works by playing the programme听online which allows you to watch it immediately. To do this, find what you want to watch on the 大象传媒 iPlayer website or app, either live or on demand, and press听play. You can also use听Live听Restart to watch a programme that's already started from the beginning. Find out more in the听How do I use Live Restart?听辫补驳别.
Sometimes your internet speed may not be fast enough to allow for streaming. Typically, the playback will freeze, skip and 'buffer.' If that's the case downloading may be a better option for you.
Downloading programmes
Downloading a programme means you can save it temporarily to your device to watch when you're not connected to the internet, or when you're outside of the UK. To find out more about downloading programmes, check the听How can I watch programmes when I'm offline? 辫补驳别.听
Downloads are subject to rights restrictions, so they're听available for the same amount of time as the programme on our website or app. This is often 30 days but may be longer; months or听over a year, whereas for certain content, mainly听sports events, the availability will be shorter, or sometimes downloading won't be an option.
You can download content when this symbol is displayed on screen:
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