The days of the television could be numbered. Statistics show that folks are spending more and more 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 has always been apparent, but it not until recently that it has begun to match more traditional visual entertainment with regards to quality.

As well as the proven fact that computers offer so much 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 films online still can still have some connotations of shady practices for example torrenting pirated material and poor quality products. Conversely, which is changing fast and internet TV is hitting the mainstream.

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

Television networks have come to recognize the opportunity of the web as a medium for broadcasting television shows. Networks like NBC, ABC and CBS permit you to stream TV shows if you have missed them on television. They can be often posted on sites about one day after it airs on tv.

This is ideal if you miss an episode as you will go back and watch it any time. On the flip side, 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 United States Of America residents.

Another option is Peer to Peer TV (P2PTV). The emergence of web pages 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 just like 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 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 several options for watching TV shows and free movies online 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 usually available to stream from ‘unofficial’ sources, but again this practice is questionable.