Review: Three Canadian TV iPad apps

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

Canadians are pretty lucky. The bigger TV networks and stations have embraced the iPad revolution and have been aggressive in pursuing different ways to serve their customers by offering a number of TV shows on the iPad. We take a look at what apps are out there today, how good they work and what sort of content they offer.

Global Video App

The good folks at Global have put together a solid iPad app that offers full length episodes and clips, offers complete TV listings across Canada, web exclusive content and an easy to use interface. Most of the shows have the most recent (1 or 2) of popular shows while some (like Haven or 16:9 The Bigger Picture) have the entire season up for grabs.

The good thing about the Global Video app is that there isn't an overabundance of noisy and repetitive advertisements which is great for viewers. The list of shows available on the Global app as of our review deadline are:

• 16:9 The Bigger Picture
• 90210
• Brothers and Sisters
• Celebrity Apprentice
• Days of our Lives
• ET Canada
• The Good Wife
• Global National
• Haven
• Hawaii Five-O
• House
• NCIS
• NCIS Los Angeles
• The Office
• Off the Map
• Outsourced
• Rookie Blue
• Saturday Night Live
• Shattered
• Survivor
• Spring Wipeout
• The Young and the Restless.

Rating 3.5 out of 5

CBC TV App

Fans of CBC programs Dragons' Den, Republic of Doyle, Being Erica, Little Mosque on the Prairie, Rick Mercer Report and more are available right at your fingertips, for free and on-demand with the CBC TV App for iPad. The selection of shows is a bit bland but many of the programs they offer have almost the entire current season available and you aren't spammed with too many advertisements. While content could be better, that is a programming issue and has nothing to do with the app which works just fine. Below are the shows available from the CBC iPad app.

• 18 to Life
• Best Recipes Ever
• Coronation Street
• Dragon's Den
• George Tonight
• Heartlands
• Insecurity
• Inside the Royal Wedding
• Little Mosque on the Prairie
• Marketplace
• Republic of Doyle
• Steven and Chris
• The Fifth Estate
• The Rick Mercer Report
• Village on a Diet 
• Winnipeg Comedy Festival.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Citytv Video App

Citytv Video's app was one of the first to offer streaming content on the iPad and offers full episodes and a long list of video extras including clips, interviews, webisodes and more. You can also now wake with Breakfast Television, LIVE on your iPad everyday between 6am-9amET. Check back regularly for new episodes or better yet use the Citytv Video App Reminder to alert you when the latest episode of your favourite show is available.

The Citytv Video application has other features that enable sharing of your top video picks, get more info on your top shows, flag your favorites, see the latest TV schedule, get notified you when new videos are available and keep track of what you have already watched. What makes this a bit unpleasant is that they often repeat the same farn Harry's Law commercial up to twice each break. Still CityTV Video has the largest (and arguable the best) selection of show for iPad users.

• 30 Rock
• Body of Proof
• Breakfast Television Toronto
• Chase
• CityLine
• Community
• Conviction Kitchen
• Cougar Town
• EP Daily
• Extreme Makeover Home Edition
• Fringe
• Glenn Martin DDS
• Harry's Law
• How I Met Your Mother
• Minute to Win It
• Modern Family
• Parenthood
• Parks and Recreation
• Perfect Couples
• Reviews on the Run
• Secret Millionaire
• Supernanny
• The Bachelor
• The Biggest Loser Couples
• The Event
• Undercovers
• Warehouse 13
• Who Do You Think You Are

Rating: 4.5 out of 5