How to ('legally') download TV and Movies...

I get asked this often, and while there is info all over the web that can help you, I'll add one more...

For you Mac users, I'm not sure if it is all done the same way. I'll try to read up on it, but as I'm not a user, it's a guess. If you do try it, let me know how it goes.


I'll first explain quickly what torrent sharing is to keep you from getting nervous about being "open to hackers" or "giving everyone access to my computer".

In simple terms:
- A torrent is a file that has been broken up into pieces and made available for download.

Think of a digital book being split up into chapters 1,2,3...10

- Those pieces are shared with other users.

User A makes this torrent available, and User B begins to download it, One chapter at a time

- As users download pieces of the torrent, other users begin to download the pieces from them.

User B has successfully downloaded chapter 1 and is currently downloading chapter 2 from User A.
User C begins to download chapter 2 from User B

- Torrent allow users to download files much faster than regular downloads because you can SIMULTANEOUSLY download from multiple users

While User C downloads chapter 2 from User B, they can be simultaneously downloading chapter 1 from User A.

- In order to download a torrent file, a user must have a 'Bittorrent' program. This allows the downloading/ uploading of file to be organized and compiled.

- Files are not downloaded in order 1, 2, 3...to 10 so you cannot start watching/ using the file until the entire files has been downloaded.

- Terms you will come across while using torrent:
Seeds: Users who have downloaded the COMPLETE file and are still sharing
Leachers: Users who have not yet downloaded the complete file and are sharing the pieces they have

- The higher the number of seeds, the faster the download.  If there are NO seeds sharing the file (only lleachers),  you will not be able to complete the download and thus, not be able to watch/use it.

- The number of simultaneous pieces that can be downloaded depends on the number of people sharing the file, thus the less popular files will often take longer to download.

Book1 is popular and has 10+ Users sharing the torrent.
Book2 is less popular and only has 2 Users sharing it.

Downloading Book1 will be faster because you would be able to simultaneously download all 10 pieces of the torrent from 10 users. Book2 will be slower because you could only download 2 pieces at a time

- Unlike programs like Limewire, Bittorrent programs do not give users access to your computer folders. Only files that are ACTIVE in your bittorrent program (i.e. that you have downloaded and left active after they are completed) are available to other users

Now that you have the basics, here's how you do it:

1) Find a Bittorrent program. I use Azureus version 2.5.04 which can be downloaded here. I am used to it so I haven't updated it in some time and later versions are a little differant.  You can also use uTorrent (download here). Many people I know like it better. It's really up to you.
*mac users: I think you would downloadAzeurus here

2) Once you have downloaded and run it (be sure to set it as your default program for torrent files), you can now go find torrents of things that you would like to download.  Of course you will only be downloading legal files, not that there are laws governing these files ;).  Sites that I have heard are good are: EZTV (which had daily torrents of tv shows), and Mininova (which has everything including Movies and Programs). 

3) When you find your torrent you are going to download, I HIGHLY recommend you read the comments for it.  The torrent world is a community and people look out for each other, and it is in the comments that you will hear about the quality of the show, if it is actually the file you think you will be downloding etc)

4) I also highly recommend you do not download movies that just came out and are available as CAM versions (handheld camera). Often they are shit quality, but more importantly, if you are ever going to get caught these are the illegal files they (whoever they are) are concerned with

5) Click the option to download the torrent. When the option pop-up comes, click 'Open'.  Your torrent program will open and request that you select the location to place the file.  Select it and hit 'OK'

5) After you are finished downloading a torrent, it is good to continue to share the file before stopping it for a period of time. Be careful if you have upload/ download limits with your ISP though.  Some torrent sites will not let you download files from them if your file share ratio (upload to download) is not high enough.  You will see the torrents you have downloaded in the bottom section of Azeurus. You can stop it by clicking the 'X' in the menus, or right clicking on the file

6) .MKV are High Definition video files, .AVI are regular quality. They both play in VLC Media Player in case you do not have a player already
*mac users: I think you would download here


For those of you thinking this is confusing:  I bet this kid could do it, and she's only four and a half!





Let me know if you run into issues or have questions.

GOOD LUCK AND HAPPY DOWNLOADING!!!






-k