Speaking of TiVo: During the recent Writers Guild strike, we tried to make a point here of why it was so important that the Guild get jurisdiction over shows made for Internet distribution and also that writers get compensated when their work, including work not made for the 'net, is disseminated that way. There are/were many fine reasons but one we mentioned a few times is that the line is blurring between the various delivery methods. It's getting harder and harder to tell what's a broadcast TV show and what's an Internet one these days.
It's only going to get blurrier and another step will be taken later this year. The TiVo folks have announced that those of us who have later models of their wonderful machines will soon be able to download YouTube videos to our TiVos.
This is a major development. It means that, for example, NBC can upload Jay Leno's monologue to YouTube and I can then download it to my TiVo. Then I can watch it on the same set in the same way I'd watch it via its traditional method of transmission. Or some civilian, unaffiliated in any way with the network or show, can capture the monologue and slap it up on YouTube…and by the time NBC tells them to take it down, it'll already be on my TiVo. This is going to change a lot.