The days of the television may very well be numbered. Statistics show that folks are spending an increasing number of time in front of their computers, which can soon replace the trusty TV as the nation’s number one form of entertainment.

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

And also the proven fact that computers offer so a lot 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 all of it on demand at the internet.

The mention of watching TV shows and movies on the web still can still have some connotations of shady practices such as torrenting pirated material and movie poor quality products. Conversely, 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 opportunity of the internet 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 websites 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 other hand, 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 also are only available to United States Of America residents.

Another option is Peer to Peer TV (P2PTV). The emergence of web pages 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 much 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’ll need a client to do this and because it is live, shows are not available on demand. These services are especially popular for live music and sports events.

The internet being what it’s, there are various 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 is 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.