Google Forging Ahead in Discussions with Media Companies For Web-TV Service
As a number of companies close in on finding a way to crack open the pay-TV market and pump channels through the Internet as opposed to traditional satellite and cable, Google is talking to media companies about deals, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The search giant is trying to license content for an Internet-based pay-TV service that would ostensibly offer similar packages and channels as current pay-TV offerings. (Note that although IPTV is a Real Thing and is technically Internet-based, it’s not the same as a service that would be provided by Google, Intel, Apple, and others that are working to develop Internet-based TV services.)
Google TV software baked into an LG Smart TV
Google has many of the goods necessary to run an Internet-based TV service that would compete with traditional pay-TV services, including its Google TV software, gigabit fiber networks that are more than capable of pumping channels (not to mention the TV service Google is offering with its fiber packages), and YouTube.
Of course, Intel is making headway in that regard, as well, and the chipmaker recently acquired Omek Interactive, which makes motion sensing and gesture control technology and will help Intel make a play for the living room. Other contenders such as Netflix and Hulu are angling for a chunk of the market, too.
Intel is also making a play for the living room
The sticking point with the Internet TV services is content providers, who seem to be scared to do anything innovative with their licensing deals. They do have a good thing going with current pay-TV services, but those are clearly part of an old paradigm of media consumption and need to radically change to survive. It’s likely that repeated inquiries from behemoths like Google and Intel will eventually shake the content providers loose.
The search giant is trying to license content for an Internet-based pay-TV service that would ostensibly offer similar packages and channels as current pay-TV offerings. (Note that although IPTV is a Real Thing and is technically Internet-based, it’s not the same as a service that would be provided by Google, Intel, Apple, and others that are working to develop Internet-based TV services.)
Google TV software baked into an LG Smart TV
Google has many of the goods necessary to run an Internet-based TV service that would compete with traditional pay-TV services, including its Google TV software, gigabit fiber networks that are more than capable of pumping channels (not to mention the TV service Google is offering with its fiber packages), and YouTube.
Of course, Intel is making headway in that regard, as well, and the chipmaker recently acquired Omek Interactive, which makes motion sensing and gesture control technology and will help Intel make a play for the living room. Other contenders such as Netflix and Hulu are angling for a chunk of the market, too.
Intel is also making a play for the living room
The sticking point with the Internet TV services is content providers, who seem to be scared to do anything innovative with their licensing deals. They do have a good thing going with current pay-TV services, but those are clearly part of an old paradigm of media consumption and need to radically change to survive. It’s likely that repeated inquiries from behemoths like Google and Intel will eventually shake the content providers loose.
