The days of the television could be numbered. Statistics show that men and women are spending more and more time in front of their computers, that can soon replace the trusty TV as the nation’s number one form of entertainment.

While the potential of web video happens to be apparent, but it not until recently which it has begun to match more traditional visual entertainment when it comes to quality.

As well as the proven fact that computers offer so a lot more are making them an increasingly popular way to watch TV shows. As opposed to waiting with bated breath for the next episode of your favorite series, or ruing the loss of an episode missed, you may have it all on demand at the internet.

The mention of watching TV shows and free movies online on the web still can still have some connotations of shady practices for example torrenting pirated material and poor quality products. On the flip side, that is changing fast and internet TV is hitting the mainstream.

With fast connection speeds and technologies for example DivX you may watch good quality television and you will do it with a clear conscience.

Television networks have come to recognize the potential for the net as a medium for broadcasting television shows. Networks like NBC, ABC and CBS allow you to stream TV shows if you have missed them on television. They’re often posted on web pages about one day after it airs on tv.

This is ideal if you miss an episode when you will go back and watch it any time. On the contrary, these streams are popular and you may experience bad lag while attempting to stream the show if it aired recently. Shows usually stay online for about per week and also are only available to USA residents.

Another option is Peer to Peer TV (P2PTV). The emergence of sites for example joost.com has made these a popular option for watching TV online. You will normally have to download a special client to watch these as the technology is much like torrenting. Unlike torrenting the content is streamed, and not downloaded onto your hard drive so you may experience some lag at peak times.

It is now also possible to stream live television as it happens. Like P2PTV you may need a client to do this and since it is live, shows are not available on demand. These services are especially popular for live music and sports events.

The web being what it’s, there are various options for watching TV shows and films online. Torrenting clients are hugely popular but the legality and ethics of this practice are questionable, and it is a notorious way of infecting your computer with viruses. Many TV shows will also be available to stream from ‘unofficial’ sources, but again this practice is questionable.