Catch your favorite TV shows on the Web

— -- How'd you like to watch The Simpsons,Saturday Night Live or even a full-length movie on your schedule? New sites allow you to do just this and the number of shows offered is steadily increasing. Like television, the shows online are advertiser-supported and free to the viewer.

There are drawbacks. You'll have to watch the shows on your computer's monitor. While there are ways to stream what's on your computer to your TV, most of us won't want to go through the technical hoops to do it. And, in most cases, you can't download the shows. Links for all of these sites are at www.komando.com/news.

Cornucopia sites

Unlike television, where programming is limited by network affiliation, several sites have deals to offer shows from different networks. For example, Joost features more than 20,000 shows.

You'll find prime-time and sports broadcasts, along with documentaries and music. There are shows from Comedy Central, CBS and MTV. Sony and Showtime also offer videos. Most are full-length shows. Others are clips or extras.

You can browse by channel or category to find a show, or use the site's search function.

You must download the Joost viewer to watch its shows. It works on Windows PCs and Macs. Expect to see about three minutes of advertising per hour, although this may increase. Joost also uses annoying pop-up ads.

Hulu is similar to Joost. You'll find full-length shows and clips from NBC, Fox, Bravo and Oxygen, among other networks. Some movies are available. You can browse alphabetically, by genre or by network. There's also a search box.

No software is needed for Hulu. You just click and watch online. You see about one-quarter the number of ads on Hulu as on television.

AOL's In2TV features a wide selection of classic shows. You'll find comedy, drama, sci-fi and other genres.

But In2TV isn't limited to the classics. It has partnered with major networks, mostly through Hulu, to offer recent videos. In2TV plays about two minutes of commercials per half-hour episode.

Individual networks

Major networks have also launched their own video sites.

ABC lets you watch many of its shows online. However, its full archive is not available. Only some recently aired episodes are offered.

You can watch full episodes with commercial interruptions. There is no software to download. You'll see two ad breaks during a half-hour show and three during hourlong shows.

Similarly, CBS offers clips and full episodes of recently aired shows. Advertising supports the shows. There is no software to download. CBS shows four ads per half-hour video. The ads are 15 or 30 seconds.

NBC also offers full-length, advertising-supported episodes of its shows. No software is needed to watch shows on NBC's site. Advertising breaks are similar to those on television. However, only one 15- or 30-second commercial is played during a break.

However, some shows are downloadable. Software is needed to view these videos. The software currently supports Windows.

Fox's offerings are more limited. Full-length episodes are available in select markets. These include New York, Washington, Los Angeles, Dallas and Boston. In other areas, clips from recent shows can be viewed.

Also check your favorite television station or network's site. Many have similar offerings.

Some sites require a Web browser plug-in. You'll be prompted to install it if needed.

A final warning

Remember, not all television shows are family friendly. Exercise caution when watching videos online with your children. I wouldn't let the kids loose on these sites without looking over their shoulders.

Kim Komando hosts the nation's largest talk radio show about computers and the Internet. To get the podcast or find the station nearest you, visit: www.komando.com/listen. To subscribe to Kim's free e-mail newsletters, sign up at: www.komando.com/newsletters. Contact her at gnstech@gns.gannett.com.