Viacom joins Google TV boycott

Viacom has confirmed that it is blocking all of its content on Google TV devices from Sony and Logitech. This includes programming from Viacom networks Comedy Central, MTV, VH1, Spike TV, BET, Nickelodeon and others.

So, Google TV may want its MTV, but finds the doors closed. Last Sunday, Google TV users first reported being unable to access the Viacom channels. With the move, Viacom joins the four major US networks ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox, as well as the Hulu Plus premium service, in the boycott of Google TV.

Last September, Google TV announced its first official content partners. Broadcasters such as Time Warner’s HBO and Turner Broadcasting and even CNBC, part of NBC Universal, were named as parties who made their programming available to the service.

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Google TV products coming soon?

The rumor mills are working overtime. Here's CNET's Digital Home Blog:

Citing unnamed sources, the technology blog reported that Logitech is planning to release its Revue set-top box on September 29. Engadget said the Revue will retail for $299.

Rumors surrounding Google TV have been cropping up quite a bit lately. Earlier this week, a reportedly leaked Best Buy document claimed Google TV would be launching on October 17. That followed a comment made by Google earlier this year, claiming its service--which allows people to search for content on the Web and on cable boxes--would be available in October.

However, that doesn't mean that Engadget's latest report of a September 29 release for the Logitech Revue is inaccurate. Last week, Intel CEO Paul Otellini told The Wall Street Journal that Google TV devices would "start shipping this month."

Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-20016670-17.html?tag=mncol;title#ixzz0zotDCChX

Here comes Google TV

Google CEO Eric Schmidt gave the closing keynote at the IFA show in Berlin, announcing that the Google TV platform would be available on products in the U.S. this fall, and would go worldwide in 2011. Sony is on board with an HDTV and a Blu-ray player, and Logitech will also be there with Revue. There is a good write-up on Sony's Google TV product in Broadband TV News. And, Sony's not the only TV manufacturer working with the Google TV platform, as reported in the article.

Although Sony is the “official launch partner” for Google TV, there was another working Android TV set on display in Berlin. A small Scandinavian company called People of Lava from Sweden displayed a working set with apps running Facebook, YouTube, Google Maps, Mail and Twitter alongside a TV channel. Android is Open Source, so anyone can join the game. The company will bring a 42 inch set in their People of Lava Scandinavia series later on the market.

Another good article from Electricpig.co.uk provides more detail on some Google TV functionality, including using an Android phone (and potentially you iPhone) as a Google TV remote. This would include voice control. .

Samsung may be willing to consider Google TV, according to a Bloomberg article. Samsung, which uses its own Bada operating system as well as Android for its phones, is also developing an operating system that can be used for both phones and TVs, according to the company.

Is Google TV for real?

There is value in Google's solution (the ability to initiate searches across all kinds of content, including a pay-TV provider's channel lineup), but there are drawbacks. First, will users want to use a keyboard in their TV search experience? (Logitech says that the Harmony software can be downloaded as an app to Android smartphones, so that would be another option.)

Second, without the blessing of the pay-TV providers (DISH Network is the only service provider to work with Google TV), Google's search capabilities would be limited to the provider's program guide information and NOT assets like VoD titles. As the VoD libraries of the service providers grow, search and discovery is going to be more and more important - Joe Ambeault commented that Verizon constantly changes the title art and positioning of its VoD assets to encourage purchases.

Google touts its TV solution as an open platform, but one has to wonder if the pay-TV providers will care. Verizon's approach has been to develop advanced TV features themselves. Let's assume that we start to see more provider-device relationships emerge such as the LG Electronics/Orange deal or Philips Net TVs and TeliaSonera VoD. In this case, could Google TV be useful? Sure, but the question is who controls the user interface and search functionality. I would think the operator would still want that control.

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Google Said to Work on TV With Intel, Sony, Logitech

Google is working to bring Web software to televisions through a partnership with Intel, Sony, and Logitech , according to a recent BusinessWeek article.

Moving beyond the Internet search engine business, Google is now challenging companies like Yahoo, TiVo, Rovi, and Microsoft in delivering the Internet to TVs.

Parks Associates VP of Research, Kurt Scherf is quoted in the article, “it’s a sign of the legitimacy of Internet connectivity moving well beyond the PC and mobile spaces, which Google has tackled already. It completes the third leg of the stool.”

More than one-quarter of TVs purchased by U.S. consumers in January already are capable of linking to the Web through a Wi- Fi or Ethernet connection, according to another research company.

Web-enabled TVs currently on the market allow users to watch YouTube videos, view online photo albums, play games and stream movies from Netflix Inc.

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