Increasing numbers of computer users are downloading TV shows from the internet, with 2.2 million people using the BBC's iPlayer service in its first Three months.
However, many internet packages only allow users to download one gigabyte, or 1,024 mebabytes of data, each month.
This is the equivalent of about 1 and half hours of television programmes - less than the length of a feature film or long documentary.
Martin Lewis, founder of the consumer website MoneySavingExpert.com, said: "In the old days this limit would only affected real nerds downloading hours and hours of music.
"But 1GB is not much more than the episode of the No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, which was broadcast over Easter."
Some internet users, if they break their data limit, have to pay almost £2 for each extra gigabyte they download.
"This could soon end up hitting £10 or even £20 a month. After all people are using downloading like video recorders," said Mr Lewis.
He believes tens of thousands of consumers could be hit inadvertently with these extra charges.
PlusNet, an internet service provider, says downloading of TV shows has increased substantially in recent months.
Neil Armstrong, marketing director at PlusNet, said: "The amount of internet traffic due to iPlayer has skyrocketed since Christmas. It was less than one per cent of all data on our network in December and more than 5 per cent in February.
"We're delighted that there is more good content available, but a lot of people are discovering that it is not really free.
Other providers do not charge, but cut off the service or slow down connection speeds, if users exceed their limits.
Michael Phillips, a director at Broadband Choices, said: "The extra charges may not equate to all that much. But it is definitely a problem for all sorts of people.
"Regular families never used to download films from the internet but BBC iPlayer and Channel 4's On Demand have changed all of that. It is causing a nightmare for all the internet service providers."
Internet service providers say they - like postmen at Christmas - end up picking up the costs and hassle of delivering heavier data to customers. As a result, they argue, they will either need to be paid more by the customers, or by the companies distributing the films and television programmes.
Regulator Ofcom estimates it could cost £830 million over the next five years to upgrade the network so that it can cope with the expected explosion in popularity of video - not just from the BBC iPlayer.
Viewers of Telegraph TV can relax, as they will not be hit with extra charges for viewing the player.
Just remember currently Orange don't charge for usage over their FUP they just limit the connection and then terminate accounts, it would be likely if they did charge then they would instigate clearly publicised limits.
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