“Coronation Street,” “Upstairs, Downstairs” Episodes FOR FREE On the Web?

As we enter the broadband era, networks looking to feed viewer demand for content are digging deep into their archives and offering up some real treasures. But here's a doozy: I almost screamed when I saw that ITV may stream Coronation Street for FREE on their website. And The Sun reports that they will offer EVERY episode of the classic UK soap, going all the way back to 1960. Opening up Corrie's archives to the public will be a great asset to viewers and historians alike.

I watch new episodes of Corrie when I can, and I frequently marvel at its humor and quirky sense of community. It's the kind of character-based drama U.S. soap fans crave but never get. One particularly riveting recent episode showcased a mother and her murder suspect daughter simply having a heart-to-heart – the kind of pure emotion you don't see anymore on, say, One Life To Live.

But wait…there's more:

Other ITV classics including "Upstairs, Downstairs," "The Professionals," and "Jewel in the Crown" can be seen at ITV.com.

At least 1,500 hours of shows will be available from June, with a further 20,000 hours by the end of the year.

Let's just hope ITV.com doesn't geo-target us Americans out of the loop. We Yanks want our Corrie!