Google recently launched their new line of television and blue-ray players with the hope of merging television and internet. The idea was that owners would be able to search the web for shows and then streamline the shows on their televisions. The televisions can also run Android apps such as Pandora and Netflix.
However, ABC, NBC, and CBS have joined Hulu in not allowing content from their websites to be displayed on Google televisions. Viacom and News Corp. have not blocked their programs for Google televisions, but they may do so in the near future. It is not yet clear why ABC, CBS, and NBC decided to have their progamming blocked, but it is speculated that if successful Google television would disrupt the current business models for broadcast TV, including advertising and distribution deals. It is still unclear if the ban will be effective though. Many internet users know of sites that streamline pirated content, including content from ABC, CBS, and NBC.
Google is currently in talks with the televisions networks to have the ban released. However, it will be interesting to see if Google's televisions are as successsful as Google hopes. The numbers of hours of streamline content is constantly increasing with the average US internet user watching 9.8 hours of video content for the month of Septemeber.
http://www.cio.com/article/628632/ABC_NBC_CBS_Block_Google_TV_Declare_War?page=2&taxonomyId=3055
I find it very interesting that these major networks would make such a bold move to thwart such a large and growing company. If google is successful at merging television and internet, it could easily catch on and become the next big thing. I would think that these networks would want to stay on good terms with the company who is pioneering this new technology. Although they see t as a threat, I think it could be a great way for the companies to grow. Most of the full episodes they have on their websites have commercials that cannot be skipped, so customers having access to it on their T.V. would not stop that. I think googleTV could allow the networks to grow. Viewers who browse their site using googleTV could stumble upon new shows they have never seen before. Although googleTV could affect the amount of live TV watched, I do not think it will be detrimental to the networks.
ReplyDeleteIt seems to me that both google and these major networks would stand to gain significantly if they created a strategic alliance. With the current onDemand society these TV companies would be best served by linking themselves with a popular, innovate company such as google.
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