In the UK, if you find about a great new TV series several episodes into its run you are faced with four choices
a) Find someone who has recorded the series so far
b) Start watching and hope that what you have missed will not stop you understanding
c) Wait until season one is complete and catch repeats or buy it on DVD before the second season.
d) Shrug your shoulders and accept you have missed the boat.
Here in the US, there is a fifth choice; go to the website of the TV network and watch the episodes broadcast so far until you are up to date. I am in the process of watching the first twelve episodes of the NBC show Heroes, so that I can start watching it on Monday evenings. This show is an intriguing concept that pulls the viewer into a multi-threaded plot. The basic premise involves apparently ordinary people who have developed extra-ordinary powers; including two of whom that have seen a near future in which a nuclear explosion obliterates New York.
Having the show on the web seems like an excellent idea, as it allows one to catch up or ensure you don’t drop out after a couple of missed episodes. Clearly, when having a 5Mps connection to the Internet is normal, web delivery is practical.
