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Acclaimed 'Arrested Development' Series Begins on MSN Video
In addition to all three seasons of the show, MSN unveils a new video
player designed to enhance the experience of long-form video.
REDMOND, Wash., Nov. 21 -- MSN announced that
beginning today episodes of the Emmy award-winning comedy "Arrested
Development" will be streamed on demand on MSN(R) Video and at no cost to
viewers. The first five episodes are available today at
http://arresteddevelopment.msn.com and, starting Dec. 15, three new
episodes will be added every three weeks. All 53 episodes from the three
seasons of the show will be rolled out within the next year.
The "Arrested Development" episodes will be running with a new MSN
Video player designed to create a better viewing experience of long-form
video. The new playback experience will set the standard for future
long-form content available on MSN Video, and will include added
functionality. The player provides viewers with many options to return to
an episode they were watching if there is an interruption by automatically
finding the last position in the episode before the interruption, and also
at any time allowing the user to jump back 15 seconds. In addition, viewers
have the ability to send a link of their favorite moment within an episode
to their friends. The player can also present the show in a larger
"sit-back" view with great quality and will still allow viewers to see
their task bar to keep an eye on e-mail and instant messages.
"We're thrilled to present this critically acclaimed show to the MSN
audience along with exclusive online content for the ultimate 'Arrested
Development' fans," said Rob Bennett, general manager of Entertainment and
Video Services for MSN. "We've created a number of innovative new features
to enhance the video experience for 'Arrested Development,' and will lead
the industry in improving the overall experience for watching long-form
video content online."
Future additional content will include deleted scenes, blooper reels
and related DVD content. Interactive features such as message boards, cast
information, fan areas, blogging helpers, and subscription options for
newsletters and RSS feeds will collectively provide a deeper community
experience for fans of the show.
Produced by Twentieth Century Fox Television and Imagine Entertainment,
the multiple-award-winning "Arrested Development" ran for three years on
FOX and was one of the most celebrated comedies in the network's history.
It revolves around Michael Bluth (Jason Bateman), who is doing his best to
pick up the pieces and keep his offbeat family from falling apart after his
father, George Bluth (Jeffrey Tambor), is locked up for fraud. "Arrested
Development" content on MSN will be available at
http://arresteddevelopment.msn.com . Currently this content is only
available to U.S. viewers.
About MSN Video
MSN Video is one of the largest video-only streaming services on the
Web, watched by more than 11 million unique users per month. In addition to
streaming news, entertainment and sports video clips from more than 45
content partners including "The Today Show," FOX Sports, MSNBC, JibJab
Media Inc. and Fox Entertainment Group, MSN Video presents a broad array of
live events to online audiences worldwide. More than 50 top advertisers
support MSN Video, which is available to consumers at no charge. MSN Video
is available on the Web at http://msnvideo.com to consumers in the U.S. MSN
Video is also live in Australia, Canada, Japan and the U.K., and in Spanish
in the U.S.; the service also is in beta testing in France.
Overall, MSN attracts more than 465 million unique users worldwide per
month. With localized versions available globally in 42 markets and 21
languages, MSN is a world leader in delivering Web services to consumers
and online advertising opportunities to businesses worldwide.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) is the worldwide leader in
software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize
their full potential.
NOTE: Microsoft and MSN are either registered trademarks or trademarks
of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the
trademarks of their respective owners.
SOURCE Microsoft Corp.
http://www.microsoft.com
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