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The days of the television may be numbered. Statistics show that individuals are spending a growing number of time in front of their computers, that may 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 with regards to quality.
And the proven fact that computers offer so much more are making them an increasingly popular way to watch TV shows. Rather than waiting with bated breath for the next episode of your favorite free full series, or ruing the loss of an episode missed, you may have all of it on demand at the internet.
The mention of watching TV shows and films over the internet still can still have some connotations of shady practices such as 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 for example DivX you can watch high quality television and you will do it with a clear conscience.
Television networks have come to recognize the potential of the internet 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 web sites 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. In contrast, these streams are really 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 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 similar to torrenting. Unlike torrenting the content is streamed, and not downloaded onto your hard drive so you could 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 is, there are various options for watching TV shows and movies online. Torrenting clients are hugely popular although the legality and ethics of this practice are questionable, and it’s a notorious way of infecting your computer with viruses. Many TV shows are also available to stream from ‘unofficial’ sources, but again this practice is questionable.
