Where can I get Windows Media Player?

Windows Media Player can be downloaded from the Microsoft Web Site free of charge. We have added some shortcut links to the Microsoft website so you can easliy download Windows Media Player. Just select the correct Operating System. After installing, you might need to restart your computer.

Windows XP

Windows Media Player 10 – Size: 11,638 KB Estimated Download Time: 55 min @ 28.8 Kbps

Windows 98 SE, ME and 2000

Windows Media Player 9 – size: 13,300 KB Estimated Download Time: 62 min @ 28.8 Kbps

Windows 95 and NT4

Windows Media Player 6.4 – size: 3,512 KB Estimated Download Time: 18 min @ 28.8 Kbps

Mac OS X

Windows Media Player 9 for Mac OS X – size: 6,990 KB Estimated Download Time: 33 min @ 28.8 Kbps

If your operating system is not listed above or English is not your preferred language please go to the Microsoft download centre.

Can I not use Real Player to listen to FOCUS online?

Each edition of FOCUS is encoded as a Windows Media Audio file or WMA. These files can be played in Real Player however the FOCUS Website will automatically play the selected edition of FOCUS only if you have Window Media Player installed on your computer. If you would like to listen via Real Player you will have to select your desired edition and then click the link ‘If FOCUS does not start automatically please click here’ this will open the WMA file in your default player.

Can I fix the audio quality?

Some people may notice that the audio quality of FOCUS online is not 100% clear all the time. This is because each file is encoded at a low bit rate per second. For audio to be near CD quality the file should be encoded at around 128Kbps, we encode FOCUS at 20Kbps. We use a low rate to allow FOCUS to be accessed by users with a slow internet connection, 28Kbps. If you listen to FOCUS regularly please subscribe to the FOCUS watch list where you will be asked to enter your connection speed this will help us to determine the average connection speed of our listeners. As the older 28.8Kbps modems are replaced by the 56Kbps modems and broadband we will increase the encoded bit rate of FOCUS and in turn increase the audio quality.