Help & FAQ
Everything you need to know about watching Starlite TV, the free live TV service for classic movies, cartoons and documentaries.
Is Starlite TV really free?
Yes. There is no account, sign-up, subscription or payment. Starlite TV is paid for by short ad breaks and optional tips.
How does Starlite TV work?
It works like broadcast television. There are 13 themed channels, each with its own 24/7 schedule. Pick a channel on the Live TV page and you join whatever is already playing, and everyone watching that channel sees the same moment. The TV guide shows what is on now and later, in your own time zone.
Why is there no sound when a channel starts?
Web browsers only allow videos to start playing automatically when they are muted. Tap or click Tap for sound (or anywhere on the picture) once and the sound stays on as you change channels.
Why do some silent films play piano music?
Silent films were made to be shown with live music. When the soundtrack on a copy has an unknown origin, we mute it and play a public-domain (CC0) Chopin piano score recorded by Musopen instead.
Are the movies legal to watch?
Yes. Everything on the air is in the U.S. public domain - for example films published before 1931, U.S. government films and films whose copyrights were never renewed - or released under an open licence that allows it. Each title page lists the rights evidence we checked; see Content & Rights.
Can I start a movie from the beginning?
Yes, for most titles. Every movie has its own page in Movies A-Z with a free on-demand player, the next times it airs on the live channels and background on the film.
What devices does Starlite TV work on?
Phones, tablets, computers and smart-TV web browsers. Nothing to install - open starlitetv.com in the browser.
What are the keyboard and remote shortcuts?
Up and Down arrows (or a remote's CH+ and CH-) change channels, number keys jump to a channel, M mutes, F goes full screen and G opens the TV guide.
The video is buffering or won't load. What can I do?
The buffering wheel shows how much of the video has loaded. If a file doesn't load, the player retries automatically and, if needed, plays a bonus program from the same channel until the schedule moves on. A slow connection may take a few seconds longer on long films; switching channels and back also starts a fresh connection.
Is there a TV guide feed for apps?
Yes. Free XMLTV and JSON schedule feeds for all channels are on the TV Guide Feeds page.
How can I support Starlite TV or advertise?
Leave an optional tip on the Support page, or see Advertise for sponsorships and ads.
How do I contact Starlite TV?
Email [email protected]. For rights questions, see Content & Rights.