I really find it interesting what some stations have started doing with putting shows online.
It is an interesting way to combat the sites that let people download shows. Simply let people watch them legally...without having to download them. Sure you have to watch the comercials, but you don't waste the time downloading them.
NBC has really been putting a lot of focus on it...at the end of shows they have been telling people that if they miss an episode, they can watch it online.
I don't have to use it often...I Tivo things that I plan on watching...so I don't "miss" shows if I am out. However, I have used it to watch shows that I didn't plan on watching.
I find it interesting that rather than trying to fight technology (like the music industry tried to do for so long) the TV industry found a way to use it.