Digital Streets

Watching TV on the web can not only be convenient, but it can also keep you from missing your favorite shows when an unexpected obstacle gets in your way.  Last night, my family and I were all set to watch a recorded episode of ABC’s Wipeout on our DVR.  Unfortunately, the DVR had started running out of space and had deleted the recording.  In the past, it would have been a "sucks to be you" situation, but all we had to do was hop online and go to ABC’s website and view the episode from there.  WHEW!

I had been using Hulu quite a bit to watch various shows but hadn’t really looked to see what else was available online.  It is quite surprising the number of episodes you can watch without going through the questions of legality like the torrents seem to bring up.  Here’s what I came across:

ABC - http://abc.go.com/

Since ABC saved my bacon last night, we’ll start with it.  By going to their site and selecting the full episodes tab, you will find a sufficient list of various programs to view.  The shows that caught my attention were Lost, Wipeout, and The Mole.  In addition to that, ABC provides HD streaming of the past episodes from Lost seasons 1-3, making it easy for newcomers to the show to catch up.

FOX - http://fox.com/

FOX brings a slew of its hit shows to the web with their site.  Click on Watch Full Episodes and the list will appear.  Shows like Prison Break, Family Guy, ’til Death, and Terminator: The Sarah Conner Chronicles can be found here.

CBS - http://www.cbs.com/video/

CBS was a little disappointing in its lineup, but there were some surprises.  The big hit with me was the TV Classics section, with shows like Star Trek: The Original Series, Twin Peaks, The Twighlight Zone, and Perry Mason, it was like a trip down memory lane.  CBS seems to carry very few full episodes of its Primetime content online, but does carry its Daytime shows for those that have to spend the day in class or at work.

TNT - http://www.tnt.tv/dramavision/

At TNT, go to the BROWSE VIDEO section and select the FULL EPISODES tab.  While it has a limited selection, they are all high quality shows (The Closer, Saving Grace, Charmed, and Angel).

A&E - http://www.aetv.com/videos/display.jsp

If you want something off the beaten path, A&E might have something for your liking.  With shows like Gene Simmons Family Jewels, Chris Angel Mindfreak, and The Two Coreys, you are sure to find an entertaining episode.

Cartoon Network - http://www.cartoonnetwork.com/video/index.html

Cartoon Network has some great shows for kids (and those that are kids at heart) with Operation: Kids Next Door, Dexter’s Laboratory, Ben 10, and many others.  Simply click the Shows button on the Video control menu to bring up a full listing of all available cartoons.

Hulu - http://www.hulu.com

If you can’t find what you’re looking for, then Hulu is the place to go. They have a slew of shows, both old and new, including shows from NBC’s lineup (like Heroes) and USA Network (Monk, In Plain Sight, Psych, and my favorite, Burn Notice). If you haven’t tried Hulu yet, I highly recommend you take it for a drive.