In the dawn of the modern century, a lot of technological advancements have been introduced to

communities across the globe. There technological advancements have surely changed, shaped, and
developed the way people live. More often than not, these advancements have also made life easier,
faster, and more convenient. It has allowed individuals to create a lifestyle that is highly in tuned to
the speed that status quos go. These advancements are encompassing. They can be on the medical
field, legal field, academe, and even on the entertainment and recreation fields! One of these many
advancements is watching television online.

For years, watching television show have been constricted and limited to the four walls of the
dining hall, living room, bedroom, office, and the like. Individuals have always needed to rush just
so they can keep up and watch their favorite soap operas, dramas, comedy shows, cartoon shows,
and many others. Consequently, in instances wherein time makes it impossible for people to access
their favorite television shows, it always is accompanied with a heavy pang in their hearts. This is
because missing a television show then meant missing an important sequel or segment of their
favorite series. There was no way to watch it again unless the channel operators or the local service
operators decided to anchor a replay. Even with replays, missing a television show used to be very
saddening because replays usually only happen right after the entire series have been aired.
Therefore, until then, a person who has missed a television show segment is left with nothing but
hearing the segments plot from others.

Time and place have always been very consequential to television viewing then. It was only until
modern technology graced society with its recent technological advancements that television
viewing took a notch higher.

Webcasting falls under two different kinds. It could either fall as a VOD or on-demand streaming
media or a live streaming media. Although different, these two kinds of webcasting are still equally
able to provide quality and clear smooth picture accompanied by fantastic audio. Regardless that,
what differentiates the two is the type of media coverage that they provide. On-demand streaming
covers the playback of a recorded document that is accessible through a link inserted on a selected
World Wide Web page. Through services provided by on-demand streaming, a World Wide Web
guest is given the right to use a streaming document at the time that is most convenient for him.
Live streaming media, on the other hand, is the broadcast of a certain specifically programmed
digital file. Therefore, live streaming is actually the screening of a certain occasion in its exact time
through the World Wide Web. In all of its numerous rights, entries, and approaches, on-demand
and live streaming are highly the same. In addition, these two different kinds of webcasting, on-
demand streaming and live streaming are at present being protected so that they do not permit
sharing through the usage of Digital Rights Management (DRM).

Although very similar, it is also very imperative to take into consideration the differences between
the two webcasting services. The next paragraphs will discuss the distinct purposes and processes
that differentiate one webcasting service from the other.

The On-Demand Webcasting covers the playback of a recorded document that is accessible through
a link inserted on a selected World Wide Web page. It can be an analog video tape or a digital video
tape. It also covers all digital documents saved on your PCs, laptops, and other devices that are
converted to streaming digital documents for the purpose of World Wide Web screening through
the Internet. Finally, when this process is already conducted in your personal computers, laptops,
or devices, it is referred to as encoding. To connect your device to the World Wide Web, these
processed streaming digital documents and motion pictures are then uploaded from your device via
File Transfer Protocol to your personal subscription on any of your chosen webcasting servers.
Following that, the webcasting server the gives you the right to put a link for the processed
streaming digital file and motion picture on your web site. Finally, when a web visitor or guest
clicks on the link of your sites broadcasted motion picture, the chosen digital file is then played and
screened to the web guest and visitor with a quality and great broadcasted content. Furthermore,
once chosen, this file is accessible for watching in all hours of the day!

Live Webcasting, on the other hand, is the screening of a certain occasion in its exact time through
the World Wide Web. It happens on an altogether different and unique process, in comparison to on
VOD or On- Demand Screening. Firstly, a specific incident is taken live with a video camera at a
certain angle and standpoint. The digital video device is then linked to a personal computer or
laptop through a certain USB cable or a firewire (IEEE). This cable must be very well protected
because it provides the video signal straight to the personal computer or laptop. Once the video
signal is established, it is then processed to broadcasting digital contents that are already encoded
on the said device. Following the said procedure, the processed digital file is then uploaded from
the on-site device to any of the many cherished broadcasting operators through DSL, a high-speed
internet connection, or cable, DSL. The operating channels then use their broadcasting servers to
reproduce the digital file and share it to all subscribers asking for it through actual time video
streaming!

Now that the processes of the different webcasting services have been explained to you, the next
question should be when to use any of the two services. The next paragraphs will discuss when it is
best to use Live Streaming or Video On- Demand (VDO).

It is best to resort to and choose Live Streaming if the user wishes to watch and witness certain
breaking news, live events, fashion shows, athletic games, and the like. Live streaming the said
events will make the viewer feel as if he was truly in the events actual location. It disregards the
distance and the time. It brings the viewer closer to the actual event. It also shares the events
experience to the viewer firsthand! Note that most users who are engaged in creating gatherings
and working on programs, the World Wide Web provides operating services such as Ready Talk as
great avenues of conducting such things.

If Live Streaming is for keeping up with events, VOD or On Demand Video Streaming also has an
altogether different purpose. Business practices and lecture sessions are excellent good examples of
when video on-demand is the better tool to be used. This is because as a user, you might wish that
all of your new employees, students, or listeners will be given an access to a certain video,
regardless if it is or it is not at the same moment with everyone else. In instances like this, services
such as Viddler are of great help. With a simple incorporation and safety, Viddler provides great
quality video on demand for all kinds of company resolutions.
In the end, as you might have noticed, both webcasting services are very pragmatic and helpful.
Video on-demand and Live Streaming are two very helpful techniques for a users video approach.
Most of the time, they differ on the kind of purpose you are propagating and using the video for.
Now that you are well acquainted with which webcasting service to resort to in your presentations,
the next question is regarding the legality of watching television shows online. Is watching
television shows for free online legal?

The most straightforward answer is both a No and a Yes. Knowing whether or not watching a
television show online is legal or not is highly dependent on the manner that you are watching TV
on the World Wide Web. Almost always, the fastest way of knowing whether the digital file you are
accessing is legal or not is through determining whether the motion picture that you are accessing
has ads or a lot of sponsors. It is obvious that the makers of the digital file cannot manage to pay for
the release of the said file without certain types of funding, fiscal support, and subsidy. If you are
accessing or viewing television shows in the absences of advertisements or sponsorships popping
up, there is a great chance that that site is illegally broadcasting digital contents. Take note that if
users are accessing or watching illegal files in the Internet, it can cause a lot of security risk because
a number of these web providers that are providing the file contain a lot of malware.

However, users need not fear because there are actually a lot of sites in the Internet that offers and
provide watching television shows for free and also legally. These sites are:

A. Joost - A good compilation of files from an extensive assemble of resources. It also provides
coverage of a number of old and classic cartoon shows like Cat and Dog, Rugrats, Power
Rangers, Popeye, Power Puff Girls, Fat Albert, Rollie Ollie Pollie, and a lot more.
B. Hulu This is top place and site used for looking for packed and lawful television series,
clips, and certain movies for United States web guests. Hulu is a combined provider along
the lines of Fox, NBC, and a lot more.

C. A&E - The A&E TV web provider gives unique shows such as those as famous and loved as
The Cleaner, Obsessed, Intervention, and Dog the Bounty Hunter.
D. Emol - This is another good compilation of complimentary community area shows, films,
music clips, and television series.
E. Blip.tv - A great site to find the latest and most popular independent shows.
F. ABC - The ABC website, for years, has aired a number of its famous series such as Scrubs,
Lost, Dancing with the stars, Extreme Makeover, Greys Anatomy, and Desperate
Housewives.
G. CBS - The CBS page has full shows from such shows as CSI, 60 Minutes, The Victoria Secret
Fashion Shows, The Amazing Race, and a lot more.
 H. Comedy Central - The Comedy Central site features shows such as The Daily Show, The
Colbert Report, South Park, and more.
I. Fox - The Fox Broadcasting site features such popular shows as 24, American Idol, Cops,
Family Guy, Hell's Kitchen, The Simpsons, and much more.
J. FX - The FX page features such shows as 30 Days, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Rescue
Me, and more.
K. History Channel - Expedition Africa Ice Road Truckers, Pawn Stars, and more.
L. MTV - The MTV page features such shows as America's Best Dance Crew, The Hills, Punk'd,
and more.
M. Discovery Channel - The Discovery Channel site covers most of its documentaries like The
Coloney, Man vs. Wild, Terminators, and many others.
N. NBC - The NBC site contains many shows, both old and new, like as Reign, 90210, The
Vampire Diaries, Australias Next Top Model, America's Top Model, Melrose Place, and
Americas Got Talent.
O. TBS - The TBS website has series like Family Guy, 10 Items or less, Seinfeld, and My Boys.
P. TheWB - The WB site contains a compilation of all of their new and old series online such as
Babylon 5, Angel, Babylon 5, Smallville, Buffy, Friends, Firefly, The Lake, and Gillmore Girls.
Q. Lifetime - The Lifetime page provides coverage of series like How I Met Your Mother, How
to look good naked, and Army Wives.
R. TLC The TLC web site provides coverage of shows like Flip That House, Cake Boss, Say Yes
to the Dress, and Miami Ink.
S. SpikeTV - The Spike TV's site covers shows just like TNA iMPACT, Jesse James is a Dead
Man, Pros vs. Joes, and Manswers
T. TheCW - The CW also provides online coverage of many of its television channel series such
as Reign, 90210, The Vampire Diaries, Australias Next Top Model, America's Top Model,
Melrose Place, and GossipGirl.
U. VH1 - The VH1 provider features series such as Sober House, T.O. Show, and Brooke Knows
Best.
V. USA - The USA network features such shows as Burn Notice, Monk, Psych, and Royal Pains.
W. TNT - The TNT website airs famous series over the internet like Law and Order, Bones, The
Closer, and Saving Grace.

Popular illegal methods of watching TV shows

Bittorrents - Downloading a TV show through a bittorrent is often illegal. These shows have
been put up and are being shared by people who do not have the rights to the copyright.
TV streaming sites - Many TV sites have been setup to link to other places on the Internet
that stream or allow you to download full TV shows from external sources. These sites may
have disclaimers citing they are not responsible for the content that is linked on the site,
and have links to report broken video links. While the link sites themselves are not illegal,
the content that is being linked to is often considered illegal. We also highly recommend
avoiding these sites since many of them or the pages they are linking to are riddled with
intrusive advertisement, spyware, porn, and other malware.
Caution: Downloading a copyrighted TV show or movie that you have not paid for or received
permission to download is considered copyright infringement and illegal.
Other non-free solutions
 Netflix - Netflix requires a monthly membership fee, however, they have one of the largest
selections of TV shows that can either be rented on DVD or Bluray with no late fees or
viewed by streaming to your computer or TV.
Amazon Prime - Amazon Prime is a yearly fee service fromAmazon.com that allows you to
have free two day shipping on all purchases and access to their online streaming service
that has thousands of TV shows and movies including older HBO shows.
Hulu Plus - Hulu Plus is the paid version of the free Hulu service and requires a monthly
membership fee. There are many more TV shows available to stream to your computer or
TV than are available with the free Hulu service.
HBO Go - HBO Go is a service included with your HBO subscription that gives you access to
all of HBO's content.
Hardware devices that support Internet TV programs

Hardware devices, such as the Roku, Tivo, PS3, Wii, and XBox, also support the ability to watch
many online programs, as well as support Hulu, Netflix, and Amazon Prime programs. Two popular
devices that support many of these online programs are the Roku and the XBox.
There are also TVs that support an Internet connection, called Smart TVs, and include some of these
online programs. Hulu and Netflix are two common programs included on Smart TVs.

You don't need HBO to watch "Game Of Thrones." All you need to watch the most pirated show
ever, or almost anything, is either to download it from a torrent site or to Google "Game of Thrones
streaming" and click one of the first links that comes up to watch it online.

Now, don't take that as an endorsement. These activities, especially streaming, can be illegal; risk
exposure to viruses; and often involve poor quality, pop-up ads, and other annoyances.

"It's too complicated for most people," Dan Rayburn, executive vice president for the streaming
industry news site StreamingMedia.com, told Business Insider. "With Netflix or whatever, you know
what type of quality you're getting, what type of device [the content] plays on."

Yet millions of people still use these methods to watch live and recorded TV, whether to save
money or time.

In a new Business Insider/Survey Monkey poll focused solely on streaming, 14% of people
admitted to streaming unlicensed content. Of the respondents who didn't stream unlicensed
content, 23% said it was because they didn't know how, and 32% said it was because they think it is
illegal. See full poll results here
But is streaming unlicensed content online illegal? Jim Gibson, director of the Intellectual Property
Institute at the University of Richmond law school, told Business Insider that streaming online
content breaks the law in two cases.

When the user downloads even part of a file called "pseudo-streaming" it counts as a copy of
copyrighted material, which is illegal. And when the user streams content as a "public performance"
namely, when it's shown to a substantial number of people outside the normal family circle and
its close acquaintances it also constitutes a copyright violation.

Outside of these cases, accessing unlicensed streamed content is generally legal.

On the other side of the screen, however, uploading or posting unlicensed streamed content is
illegal even if it's free, according to Gibson. "That's the most basic part of copyright protection
of your work. When someone uploads a video online, they're literally making a copy," he said.

Online streaming sites may try to avoid trouble by not hosting their own content, instead acting as a
search engine for links to streamed content, usually embedded from a secondary site. In that case,
determining accountability requires the "inducement rule," a test created in a 2005 Supreme Court
ruling which states that a company or website can only be held accountable for distributing
unlicensed content if it clearly encourage users to infringe a copyright.

"It does very much depend on the marketing and the uses [these sites] are encouraging .... You
know, GM can make a car. You can use it as a getaway car in a bank robbery, or you can use it to get
work. So we dont say that GM is on the hook just because it provides a technology that can be used
illegally," Gibson said. The same goes for streaming websites.

These secondary sites, however, where the content actually exists, do violate copyright law. But
they're not usually as big as the primary sites, which aggregate unlicensed content. "If you have to
choose your battles, you're more likely to go after the bottlenecks. They give you the most access to
infringing content," Gibson said.

Just earlier this year, the Ultimate Fighting Championship organizationtook down
cagewatcher.eu, an illegal site streaming UFC fights live online, and seized its records. "Sites like
that are shut down constantly," says Rayburn, the CEO of StreamingMedia.com. "It's not hard for
law enforcement to find these sites. But it is hard to find out who's running them."

Still, many unlicensed online streaming sites continue to operate. Here's a diagram of how most of
them work:
Mike Nudelman/Business Insider
As for the experience of using an unofficial streaming site, let's see how someone might find FX's
"American Horror Story" online. Instead of Googling "American Horror Story streaming," we'll go
straight to ProjectFreeTV, a site we know, and search there.

ProjectFreeTV
Searching here will yield a bunch of links to embedded content, generally hosted on a separate site.
Choose the link you want to watch, considering load time and any other factors. We picked season
three, episode three.
ProjectFreeTV
The links will bring you to another screen with an embedded video. When you press play, the first
website, in this case, ProjectFreeTV, requests the file from the second website, allmyvideos.net.
ProjectFreeTV
From the time you type the website's name in the browser to the time you press play, three pop-ups
as well as weird, sex banners interrupt the search. You'll also have to navigate the links carefully.
Only the large, blue play button will start the video, while the others could take you to outside
websites or even start downloading files or programs, which potentially contain viruses.

Finally, the server sends the episode directly to your computer, bypassing the ProjectFreeTV and
thus potentially avoiding legal repercussions.
Of course, the video might not play on your computer, since the original file could require software
that you don't have. Even if it works, the quality may well be terrible. If you can't watch the video or
don't like what you see, then you can repeat the process with another link until you are satisfied.

This clearly is not an ideal video watching experience. But as long as it's free and immediately
available and there isn't a serious government crackdown, a growing number of Internet users will
continue to choose this option.