Nielsen has released a report saying that, by putting their shows on the web and making them available for viewing there or on mobile devices, networks are allowing more people to watch those shows. Can I get a "No s**t, Sherlock!" from the congregation!
Seriously, though, digital distribution is attractive to networks because they can either charge for the ad-free download or present online streams whose inserted ads can't be skipped or fast-forwarded through. Either of those are attractive options since ad-skipping on regular TV using DVRs is a major point of frustration for networks and advertisers alike.
