Points North Group research found that 25% of Internet users are interested in watching downloaded TV shows and movies on their PCs and 38% expressed interest in watching that same video on their TVs.

Interest in watching content on TV is even stronger among 18- to-34-year-olds (68%), compared with the 45% interested in watching on PCs.

Over the past month, America Online, Yahoo, and ESPN.com, among others, have announced partnerships with chip maker Intel to use its new Viiv technology platform, which allows users to consume Internet content over their TV screens.

The first Viiv-compatible computers and laptops are expected to start trickling to market over the next several months. TVs, Internet-ready DVD players, and other devices, however, are not expected to debut until the second half of this year.