I recently underwent a tragic personal misfortune. It is the kind of turmoil that only those who have endured similar loss can comprehend.I don’t have TiVo any more. I moved from a TiVo-ed home to a primitive, unenlighted domicile lacking this particular luxury. My thumb still pulses three times whenever I see a commercial. And yet the commercial… plays… on. Hello. My name is ScreenwriterGuy. And I am an addict. (Hi, Screenwriterguy…) Of course, all I can do is try to move on. While I await roommate consensus and cable guy arrival, I have had to seek other methods of staying caught up with my shows. We live in a wonderful era, of course, because now the magic box on my desktop can do much of what the magic box in my living room has done in the past. TiVo-less as I am, I have started to explore the offerings of the various networks via the internet. Overall, it’s an impressive early effort the nets have made. Following are my observations, by network:

The network web site interfaces push promotion more than allowing for easy viewing experience. Most seem designed to get you to watch trailers and behind-the-scenes cast interviews rather than see actual shows. A similar experience might be popping in a DVD to see the extras start playing on their own before you have the option to play the movie. On some network sites, it’s actually downright difficult to make your way to the viewable full programs, requiring far more clicking than any interface designer would include by accident. Still, once you find your way to the good stuff, all of the net web pages offer a very reasonable viewing size and quality.

Obviously, web viewing doesn’t compare to cable television. Some loss is introduced in exchange for the fact that it’s coming across the internet. However, there is usually a full-screen mode available, and if you’re far enough away from the computer screen, the overall viewing experience is completely satisfactory. While not as commercial-free as TiVo (and lacking that satisfying ba-doop, badoop, bdoop! sound) the internet delivery still offers significantly fewer commercials than watching via TV.

All-in-all, while online viewing can only be considered TiVo’s bastard step-cousin, it’s hard to complain about free viewing at the convenience of your own schedule.

Here’s the breakdown by network. Five stars, theoretically, possible if it does everything I want.

ABC
(abc.com)
OVERALL SWG RATING:

Selection:
ABC was a standout in terms of offering all of their bit hits online. Their page features the last four episodes of most shows, some fewer, some the entire season to-date. Titles include According to Jim, Lost, Ugly Betty, Knights of Prosperity, Grey’s Anatomy, Men in Trees, Six Degrees, Desperate Housewives, Brothers and Sisters, What About Brian?

Conspicuously missing: Boston Legal or Extreme Home Makeover? Honestly, their biggies seem to be represented.

Intuitiveness of Navigation:
The home page includes BOTH a “Full Episodes” button in the top navigation bar AND a clearly marked territory for available shows. If you come to the home page looking to watch TV, you will find it immediately, which is more than can be said for most networks. There is still one more click than necessary, but after that, the interface is very flashy and cool.

Advertising:
A short text-and-voice ad plays before your selection. At commercial breaks, a single 30-second ad plays. The huge downside is that the user must click to advance the playback after each ad. (This site would be at least 4.5 stars overall if not for that.) The main page plays commercials for ABC shows if you haven’t clicked away by the time they load.

Performance and Viewing Experience:
The viewing area is smaller than others, with perhaps the highest quality image of the net sites. You get a bandwidth warning if you try to expand to “BIG” mode. Big mode is smaller than the full-screen option afforded by other sites, but on a fast connection there doesn’t seem to be any major loss in the image, so I respect the choice by the designers.

New episodes are posted each Friday at 2 a.m. Eastern

CBS
(cbs.com)
OVERALL SWG RATING:

Selection:
Between one and four full episodes can be found for Armed and Famous, The Class, CSI, CSI Miami, CSI New York, CSI Dayton (just kidding), How I Met Your Mother, NCIS, New Adventures of Old Christine, Numb3rs, The Papdits, Rules of Engagement, Shark, Survivor, and The Unit. The entire first season of Jericho is available.

Conspicuously missing: Two and a Half Men, The Ghost Whisperer, The Amazing Race, King of Queens

Intuitiveness of Navigation:
CBS has branded its online TV delivery site “InnerTube.” The lower left of the front page has a listing of shows with available full episodes, but once you click on them, you’ll still have to click through to InnerTube. Once there, a bit too many options await you. Stick to the top, “FULL EPISODES” sorting option, and you are good to go.

Advertising:
A five-second slide precedes your selection. After that, anywhere there would normally be a commercial break, you get a single one for 15 or 30 seconds. (I got credit card and hotel ads.). Buffering time for each one was a bit intrusive.

Performance and Viewing Experience:
This page seemed to have problems with its player. It was the only network that my system-software-only, work-issued laptop couldn’t play with just a quick plug-in. On my desktop, which has up-to-date plug-ins, it played automatically, but I could not pause playback or engage full screen mode, for some reason. The medium-sized screen had a very clear picture. Includes a very convenient “Boss Button” for those of you who need to use the internet to look busy at work. (And let’s face it… If you’re reading this, that’s you.)

CW
(cwtv.com)
OVERALL SWG RATING:

Selection:
The latest four episodes are available for most of what’s online, and most of their hit shows are represented. Titles include these: Beauty and the Geek, Supernatural, One Tree Hill, Veronica Mars, Everybody Hates Chris, Girlfriends, All of Us, and The Game

Conspicuously missing: Gilmore Girls, Smallville

Ease and Intuitiveness of Navigation:
It’s far less eye-catching than the rest of the design, but the site features a “full episodes” button on the front page’s top navigation bar.

Advertising:
A 12-second ad for one of their shows (Top Model, every time I’ve watched) plays when you first access the “full episodes” section. After that, you can watch anything you want. No commercials!

Performance and Viewing Experience:
Good medium-large size. Includes a full-screen button. The smaller screen looks is extremely smooth and clear. The image gets pixelated in full-screen mode. Required a quick installation of a plug-in the first time I used it.

FOX
(myspace.com/fox)
OVERALL SWG RATING:

Selection:
24, Prison Break, Bones, Vanished, Standoff, War at Home, American Dad, ‘Til Death, The Loop, Talk Show with Spike Feresten

(Very) Conspicuously missing: House, American Idol

Intuitiveness of Navigation: Like other nets, it still takes a bit of digging. I shouldn’t need to click so many times, but at least the order of clicks makes sense.

Advertising: A 15- or 30-second commercial at the beginning of each show you select (I got a credit card or CISCO), then no others while you watch an episode.

Performance and Viewing Experience: Decent-ish picture quality on a medium-sized screen. Full-screen option within browser. Both options are noticeably grainy, with a dithered look, but it’s a good loss compromise.

NBC
(nbc.com)
OVERALL SWG RATING:

Selection:
The selection feels flimsy, but maybe that’s just NBC’s current line-up… Between one and six episodes are available for each of: Las Vegas, My Name is Earl, Heroes, Grease, Studio 60, The Apprentice, 30 Rock, Friday Night Lights, and Passions

Conspicuously missing: The Office, Scrubs, E.R., Crossing Jordan

Intuitiveness of Navigation:
Hint #1: You’re looking for “NBC Rewind.” Hint #2: Good luck. The layout here drives you to dozens of polls, quizzes, and uninteresting extras. This might be a fantastic hangout if you’re looking for hours of time-wasters, but full episodes takes digging. The best bet seems to be scrolling over “SHOWS” in the nav bar, picking a title, and then hoping you find a “Full Episode.” Or you can try “VIDEO” on top, and make your way to NBC REWIND. Let me help you cheat with this link. Once you find shows, the navigation allows you to click on each act of the show, or you can click the first and it will cycle you through the full show.

Advertising:
Plays a 15-second commercial before each act. (Car web site)

Performance and Viewing Experience:
A relatively large screen area, plus the ability to toggle to full screen mode within your browser (which you could then additionally expand to full screen mode) A bit washed out, sorta blurry, but quite watchable. Lower quality at higher screen size setting, of course.

New episodes are posted at 5 a.m. Eastern, following the date of the broadcast.

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