Webcasts - Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Why is the quality of the video grainy?
  2. Why can I see the video but not hear any sound?
  3. Why is there an echo or why do I hear two languages being spoken?
  4. Why are my videos taking so long to start and/or very choppy?
  5. The video is choppy or stuttering, but the audio is fine?
  6. Why is my video not playing?
  7. Can I download archived hearings onto my computer?

 

1. Why is the quality of the video grainy?

Your computer may be running on a low-bandwidth network that cannot handle the high resolution videos.

2. Why can I see the video but not hear any sound?

Most PCs have two volume controls; one or both may be turned down too low or muted.   There are a volume bar and a mute button in the bottom-right corner of the video.

There will be another volume control in your computer’s task bar.

If you have external speakers, make sure they are turned on and set to a reasonable level.

3. Why is there an echo or why do I hear two languages being spoken?

It is possible to open multiple copies of the webcast page either in browser tabs or in minimized windows.   Try closing all your browsers and reopening a single one.

4. Why are my videos taking so long to start and/or very choppy?

This is most likely due to low internet bandwidth.  It is required that you have either a Cable or DSL modem providing at least 500 kbps download speed.  Please do not download music, movies, or games at the same time as you are watching a broadcast, as this consumes your bandwidth.  Note also that if you are on a shared network, other people may be consuming your bandwidth. For example if your children are using the web at the same time you are you may experience degradation. Contact your internet provider if you suspect you are getting less internet bandwidth then you should.

If you are watching from a corporate or government network, there could a policy in place that limits streaming video.  Please contact your IT section.

There is also an audio-only stream available which you may be able to use if your bandwidth is insufficient for the video.

5. The video is choppy or stuttering, but the audio is fine?

This is most likely an issue with your computer's hardware. Here's what you can do:

  1. Make sure that your system meets our minimum requirements.
  2. Check the CPU usage on your computer. To check this on Windows, right-click on your task bar, launch the Task Manager and go to the Performance tab. On a Mac, go to Application, then Utilities and launch the Activity Monitor. If the CPU usage while watching a video is above 50% (or 100% on Mac with a dual-core processor), try shutting down any application that may be using your CPU.
  3. Occasionally, an incomplete copy of a video can get stuck in your cache and never fully download. You can re-attempt the download of the video by clearing your browser's cache.

6. Why is my video not playing?

If you are using an older version of Windows with Internet Explorer, such as Internet Explorer 8, you need to install Adobe Flash Player.  It is also possible that a corporate network is blocking streaming video entirely.  Check with your IT section about this.

7. Can I download archived hearings onto my computer?

The audio version of archived hearings dated since October 2017 can be downloaded. The video version of archived hearings can only be streamed, however. Webcasts and audio files of Supreme Court of Canada proceedings may not be broadcast, rebroadcast, transmitted, communicated to the public by telecommunication, or otherwise be made available in whole or in part in any form or by any means, electronic or otherwise, except in accordance with the Copyright Act or with the written authorization of the Court. To request permission to use such material or to request a copy on DVD, please fill out the on-line Request to Use Court Photographs, Webcasts or Audio/Video Recordings.