I have "up to 15 Mbps" cable internet. I've gathered this is becoming a pretty standard speed for this type of service. If I use the torrent to download the image of Ubuntu 12.04 it takes < 10 minutes. That's 650 MB, which is enough for a 720p version of a full-length movie or a high def version of a 1-hour show (42 minutes I think). It would take about as much time to download a show as it would take to decide to watch it, find it, get settled on the couch, etc.

And don't even get started on streaming...