The days of the television could possibly be numbered. Statistics show that individuals are spending a growing number of time in front of their computers, which could soon replace the trusty TV as the nation’s number one type of entertainment.

While click through the next webpage potential of web video has always been apparent, but it not until recently that it has begun to match more traditional visual entertainment with regards to quality.

And also the idea that computers offer so a lot more are making them an increasingly popular way to watch TV shows. Instead of waiting with bated breath for the next episode of your favorite series, or ruing the loss of an episode missed, you can have it all on demand at the internet.

The mention of watching TV shows and films on the internet still can still have some connotations of shady practices for example torrenting pirated material and poor quality products. On the other hand, that’s changing fast and internet TV is hitting the mainstream.

With fast connection speeds and technologies for example DivX you can watch high quality television and you’ll do it with a clear conscience.

Television networks have come to recognize the potential of the web 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 are often posted on websites about one day after it airs on television.

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

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

It is now also possible to stream live television as it happens. Like P2PTV you’ll 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 sporting events.

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