NETFLIX BRINGING ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT BACK AS AN EXCLUSIVE SERIES

In a serious content play, Netflix has announced that it is bringing the wildly popular show Arrested Development back exclusively on its platform.

The exclusivity is the key here, as it shows that Netflix is serious about putting its distribution power into promoting original content, rather than just a catalogue of previously aired content and films. Ted Sarandos, Netflix Chief Content Officer said "Arrested Development is one of the finest American comedies in TV history and its return through Netflix is a perfect example of how we are working closely with studios and networks to provide consumers with entertainment they love."

Cancellation of the show, which first aired in 2003, caused an outcry and became a bit of a touchy subject for Fox. Even after winning an Emmy award, the show aired its last episode on February 10th, 2006. The series has been a popular DVD purchase and streaming option since its cancellation.

CABLEVISION LAUNCHES iPAD APP, OUTDOES TIME WARNER

We knew that Cablevision was involved in creating an iPad app that enables the viewing of TV content, but we didn’t know that the app would offer iPad owners a better experience than FIOS’ and Time Warner Cable’s offerings. Cablevision’s Optimum app lets you, from behind your own network at home, view your entire channel lineup directly from up to two iPads simultaneously, complete with program guide information, access to the company’s more than 2,000 VOD offerings with the rest coming this summer, while also letting you record and control your DVR directly from the app.

After entering their Optimum account username and password, users can immediately access every Optimum channel that subscribed to from the iPad. It doesn’t look like you’re able to currently watch any recorded video from your DVR, but that’s not such a big deal in my book. Cablevision told says their app doesn’t use the internet to deliver video to your iPad, nor is the content streamed, rather it’s sent over the company’s network just as it works with your set-top box. If you are an Optimum customer that doesn’t have a cable modem, Optimum will provide an internet-blocked cable modem for free that will enable you to use the iPad app with a user-provider secure wireless router. Cablevision also said that they plan to deploy the same experience to other devices, so we anticipate an iPhone and Android app in the future.