All the networks are similar, so I looked at ABC as an example of what you can find. ABC offers their most popular series like Desperate Housewives, Lost, Scrubs, and Dancing with the Stars at www.abc.com.  You can see the current episode the morning after it is aired on TV.

For some unknown reason, I love the soapy ABC show called Desperate Housewives. So the other day I turned in to ABC on the web to catch an episode that I had missed on television. I not only found the episode, but I found that you can play it on your computer in high definition. On my 24" LCD monitor, the picture was absolutely amazing. The Internet play back contained some ads, but they were limited to 15 to 20 seconds, so they were much less intrusive than regular television commercials. The whole experience was wonderful.

If you don't find what you want to watch on the network stations, there are plenty of other websites that will accommodate you. Just search for the name of the program you would like to watch. Or try a few of the websites that are known for aggregating television programming. Hulu is a good example. They have Saturday Night Live, the Simpson's, House, Office, and much more. Joost offers everything from CSI to Comedy Central. You will also find a lot of retro shows like Star Trek and Gilligan's Island.

To watch television from around the world, check out Choose and Watch. They have 250 channels of television from the US and many other countries. You can even search by country. Whether you are interested in television stations from Mexico, Estonia, or Denmark, you'll find it here.....and you'll find a wealth of US stations, as well.

Some shows can be found on several different Internet websites, so you can choose which one gives you the best picture. To view some of the online television you may need to download a video player like Windows Media Player. As long as you recognize the player or are comfortable that you are on a reputable website, you will be able to download these safely to your computer. Once they are installed, you can go back and view the video from the website at any time without any additional downloads.

You will need a broadband Internet connection to watch TV online. If your connection is fast enough, you may also find that some of these websites like Hulu let you watch full movies, some surprisingly recent.

If your computer and your television are in close proximity, you can also easily hook your computer up to the television, especially if you have newer equipment. Most recently purchased televisions have a PC video connection which simply requires a computer video cable for hookup. Some newer computers also have an HDMI input that can be used with a newer television. So with the proper equipment, you can watch the online content right on your television screen. Most people don't realize it, but the Vista Home Premium operating system includes software that lets you control and even record television on your computer. You may have to add a television tuner to your computer to take advantage of it, but these now come as small USB devices that are fairly inexpensive and easy to use.

We are just starting to see the integration of television and the Internet. The websites that I mentioned here are constantly adding new programming as well as new features. Be sure to check them out. Some folks have found that there is so much available online that they have canceled their cable subscriptions. While you may not be ready to do that, you may be amazed to find yourself actually watching and enjoying TV on your computer.