Google TV - sharing the wealth a sticking point

[phrelin]

Google, with its annual revenue of around $28 billion, has discovered that News Corp with an annual revenue of around $33 billion and CBS with an annual revenue of around $14 billion aren't just sitting there waiting for the opportunity to increase Google's revenue a their expense. From Bloomberg (http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-12-17/google-drive-for-tv-dominance-meets-reality-as-cbs-fox-block-top-programs.html): Google Inc.’s drive to bring the Internet to living-room TVs and generate fresh advertising sales is being threatened by the failure to obtain popular shows such as “Glee” and “NCIS.”

CBS Corp. Chief Executive Officer Leslie Moonves and Chase Carey, the No. 2 executive at Fox parent News Corp., say after months of talks they’re in no hurry to let Google TV offer shows via the Web for free. They say there have been no lucrative offers and they aren’t sure of the search company’s intentions.

The four major networks are blocking Google TV viewers from watching shows that consumers readily see on the Web with PCs out of fear they’ll lose ads, re-run revenue and fees from pay-TV systems. The standoff complicates efforts by Mountain View, California-based Google to gain a foothold in traditional TV, where global ad sales of $180 billion this year will be triple those of the Web, according to ZenithOptimedia Group Ltd. Google isn't dealing with a YouTube when negotiating with New Corp, CBS, NBCU and Disney. Should be interesting to see what it might ultimately cost for a subscription to Google TV.

[fluffybear]

When I first looked at a Google TV capable set, the fear that the service would eventually become a subscription service is what kept me from purchasing one. I'm not prepared to pay out another $20 or $30 a month in order to watch the major networks on Google TV.

[Chuck W]

It won't be a subscription service. That would be admitting defeat. Google will let it die before they resort to that.

What I can see happening is when the apps start flowing for GTV, someone will figure a way around the blocking and it will become whack-a-mole for the networks trying to stop it.

The thing the networks need to realize is it's not just GTV. There's Boxee and many more to come in the future. The networks need to stop fighting this and start embracing it.

[jadebox]

I suspect that the networks (and other program sources) are already working on apps for Google TV that will display their programs - without any options to skip commercials, of course.

-- Roger

[dualsub2006]

I've seen the Logitech Revue in action and I don't see the point of the networks. We searched for a show, it was on Hulu, we clicked on it and watched it on the TV. There wasn't a Google ad anywhere. The entire experience was delivered by the Hulu website. I'm not sure how this is any different than clicking AirStream on my Mac and watching via my Apple TV.

My experience with it was weeks ago before Hulu stopped the user agent work around, but this is being blown out of proportion by the content owners. It is aired for free. It is available for a short while for free online. I can watch it via my Apple TV. I can't watch it via my Google TV. Stupid.