MarketingVOX: A critically acclaimed, but canceled, Fox TV comedy will live to fight again for viewer's laughs, in syndication - on the web.

MSN's has secured exclusive online syndication rights to Fox Entertainment Group's "Arrested Development," and plans to add all 53 episodes aired over three seasons to its store of free, ad-supported videos, reports AdAge. It's the first time that a major studio has sold a show's syndication rights to a web portal, according to the article. MSN Video will serve up display and video advertising with the episodes, but advertisers haven't yet been named

Fox also signed an agreement on high-definition TV syndication rights of "Arrested Development" with HDNet, and with G4 Media for basic cable rights. Fox execs said the multi-pronged syndication approach indicates a trend for alternative video distribution, writes MediaWeek.

"This is the first time a series has been licensed to three platforms simultaneously, a testament to the explosion of the aftermarket for high-end content," Peter Levinsohn, Fox Digital Media president, is quoted as saying.

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