NBC soap opera breaks ground online

NBC has begun streaming a full-length soap opera online, becoming the first of the major networks to offer a daytime drama on the Web.

Web video is blossoming into a new distribution platform for media companies and none of the big players wants to be left out--even while the public has yet to show much of interest in watching TV on a PC, according to analysts.

The good news is that technology improvements are sprucing up the Web TV experience. The bet is that the day is coming when people can download shows or movies on their traditional TV sets.

NBC will stream episodes of the soap opera "Passions" at 6 p.m. on the same day they are broadcast over the air, and each will be available for the rest of the week.