The days of the television may be numbered. Statistics show that folks 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.

As the potential of web video happens to be apparent, but it not until recently that it has begun to match more traditional visual entertainment in terms of quality.

And the proven fact that computers offer so much more info here 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 may have it all on demand at the web.

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

With fast connection speeds and technologies such as DivX you may watch high-quality television and you may do it with a clear conscience.

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

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

Another option is Peer to Peer TV (P2PTV). The emergence of websites 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 might experience some lag at peak times.

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

The web being what it really is, there are several options for watching TV shows and films online. Torrenting clients are hugely popular though 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.