The days of the television could be numbered. Statistics show that men and women are spending increasingly more time in front of their computers, that can 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 which it has begun to match more traditional visual entertainment with regards to quality.

And also the 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 see new movie 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 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 may watch excellent television as well as you can do it with a clear conscience.

Television networks have come to recognize the potential for the net 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 websites about one day after it airs on television.

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

Another option is Peer to Peer TV (P2PTV). The emergence of web pages such as 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 may experience some lag at peak times.

It really 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 specifically popular for live music and sporting events.

The web being what it's, there are plenty of 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.