• by Wayne Friedman , January 5, 2011

Comcast says it plans to offer live television programming on iPads and other computer tablets later this year.

For the iPad alone, Comcast says it will provide nearly 3,000 hours of TV content on demand. Comcast Chairman/CEO Brian Roberts made the announcement on the eve of the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

In conjunction with its Xfinity TV service -- Comcast digital video service -- the big cable system operator also says it will add features that will transform devices like the iPad into a search engine and a television remote control.

Future releases of the Xfinity TV app will include access to social networking sites.

Right now, XfinityTV.com offers more than 150,000 online video choices. The site also supplies tools such as a 'Watchlist' feature, which tracks TV shows and movies wherever they are playing -- on TV, On Demand or online.

Comcast's Roberts stated: "Comcast has a series of upcoming online enhancements and app releases that are part of a much larger effort to reinvent how customers interact with their entertainment on TV, online and on mobile devices."