- AP, Wednesday, November 3, 2010 10:55 PM
Attempts by broadcasters to seek payment for allowing their online video to be viewed through Google Inc.'s new Web-connected TV platform represents a "misunderstanding" of what it is, a Google
executive said Tuesday, reports AP. Broadcasters ABC, NBC and CBS have blocked full episodes of
their shows from being accessed through Google TV's Web browser since the product became available last month.
Google TV is a software platform that allows users to access Web sites and online
videos through their televisions. Rishi Chandra, Google TV's lead product manager, likened the broadcasters' payment requests to a network demanding fees from Microsoft Corp. so video would work on
its Internet Explorer browser. Analysts have said the broadcasters' blockade was intended to discourage people from canceling their monthly subscriptions with cable and satellite TV service providers
by eliminating the option of watching online episodes for free on their Web-connected televisions.
It's worth pointing out that not every content owner has blocked Google TV, although some
seem to be leaving the possibility open. And Google has made great strides in mending its relationships with big media companies vis-à-vis YouTube, notes eConsultancy. At some point, you can't simply blame big media. Instead, you have to conclude that "big
media" always seems to 'misunderstand' Google in large part because Google clearly isn't doing the best job of selling its new offerings, let alone explaining cogently what those
offerings are in terms that make sense to big media companies.
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