Many shows have their own dedicated websites, allowing you to watch recent and not-so-recent episodes online. Other than what you're paying for the Internet service, you can watch these episodes for free. Many cable TV stations, such as NBC, FOX and Comedy Central, have websites that run a variety of shows that have been broadcast on the stations. These options are ideal for those who cannot watch a program when it airs and do not have a DVR system. However, a particular episode of a specific program may remain available only during a window of time, and once it's removed it may be hard to track down online.
If you do not own a television set you can still watch your favorite shows on either your computer, laptop or phone, as long as the device has an Internet connection. For example, you can download single episodes or full seasons of your favorite shows directly to your computer, laptop or phone, using iTunes or a similar service. This is ideal for traveling, or for those who want to enjoy their favorite programs outside of their homes.
Your local video store often has numerous seasons of some favorite shows available for rent, even if the show is no longer on the air. Disks containing these shows can run in either a DVD player, a Blu-ray player or on your computer. Unlike conventional TV and some online shows, rented shows will be commercial-free. Renting full seasons of shows is ideal for those who want to watch numerous episodes in a row to catch up. For example, you can watch an entire season of your favorite show in one sitting, instead of waiting for each episode to air again on conventional TV.
A Webisode is a program created specifically for the Internet. Webisodes can vary in length, with some running for only a few minutes and others for a half-hour or more. Watching Webisodes can be ideal if you have no interest in any program currently running on conventional TV. While some Webisodes may feature a known celebrity, others are made with unknown actors looking for a break. Like anything on the Internet, Webisodes are up and running 24 hours a day, allowing you to tune in whenever you please.