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

As the potential of web video has always been 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 far more are making them an increasingly popular way to watch TV shows. As opposed to waiting with bated breath simply click for source 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 films on the internet still can still have some connotations of shady practices such as torrenting pirated material and poor quality products. However, that is changing fast and internet TV is hitting the mainstream.

With fast connection speeds and technologies such as DivX you can watch top 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 permit you to stream TV shows should you have missed them on television. They may be often posted on web sites about one day after it airs on tv.

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

Another option is Peer to Peer TV (P2PTV). The emergence of 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 similar to torrenting. Unlike torrenting the content is streamed, and not downloaded onto your hard drive so you might experience some lag at peak times.

It’s 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 specifically popular for live music and sporting events.

The web being what it is, there are numerous 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 will also be available to stream from ‘unofficial’ sources, but again this practice is questionable.