Television may have owned the second half of the 20th century, but the 21st belongs to PC TV. That's right, computerized television is the wave of now. With literally hundreds of different sites offering television downloads and streams and satellite providers catering directly to computer owners, there's no need for a regular set any more.

All a person needs to enjoy a world of television that's bigger than anyone in the 1980s or earlier could have imagined is a good computer, an Internet connection and maybe a satellite provider that caters to PC TV. Specialized cards might need to be added to a computer, too, depending on the television stations desired, but the fact is the computer opens up a whole world of viewing that many people don't know about.

Typically, setting up a computer to become a PC TV is a fairly easy and inexpensive task. The process is so simple, even computer beginners can figure it out. And, they have, making this format a favorite of many.

PC TV is becoming so popular for a number of reasons. These include:

* Variety. PC TV can provide more channels from all over the world than regular television or cable any day. Between direct satellite connections and the different sites on the Internet that enable downloads or streaming viewing, there's never a moment without something good on. Think of it as an on demand selection through a regular cable provider pumping up by Herculean proportions and you'll start to get the idea about PC TV.
* Recording ability. Most PC TV set ups enable the quick and easy recording of programs right over the computer. This means they can be recorded and easily burned to disk for viewing on a regular television via a DVD player. Think of a computer as the ultimate VCR when it comes to programming options and you get the idea of the power of PC TV. Of course, it's also fairly simple to hook the CPU up to a television set, too, for direct play.
* Pricing. PC TV tends to win hands down over more traditional methods for obtaining multiple channels. Even when PC satellite is brought into the mix, the monthly costs are much lower than regular cable or generally they are.
* Quality. Since most modern computers are designed to handle high-definition signals, the quality of PC TV can be very high. Plus, monitors that enable a crisp, clean picture are much less expensive than regular television sets.
* Freedom. There's no reason to be bogged down to X number of cable channels with PC TV opens up viewing from stations all over the world. Plus, if you don't like what's on in Algeria or beyond, there are download sites to fill in the gaps.

PC TV is a relatively new phenomena, but it's one that's taking the world by storm. Opening up programming from all over the globe and doing so in a manner that's user friendly and easy to master, this form of TV viewing is becoming the favorite of many. Regular TV just can't compete with the speed, pricing and viewer options offered by this format.