Google
launched a contest this week with YouTube to give away one hundred 46-inch high-definition (HD) Sony Internet TVs powered by Google TV.
To enter, create and upload a video telling YouTube why
you're "pumped" about Google TV. Google will select the winning submissions based on originality, creativity, entertainment factor, technical execution, and how well the excitement streams through
the submission. The contest rules are here. Those entering should upload a video by Dec. 22, and tag it with "ytgtv." Google will announce
the winners on Jan. 20, 2011.
Meanwhile, 172 million U.S. Internet users watched online video content in November 2010, according to comScore Video Metrix. The total U.S. Internet audience
engaged in nearly 5.2 billion viewing sessions during the month. Google Sites, driven primarily by video viewing at YouTube.com, ranked as the top online video content property with 145.8 million
unique viewers.
While ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, and Viacom took steps to block Google TV's access to premium television shows, there is other content on the platform. The TV allows users to search
the Internet and provides access to free books and movies, and YouTube offers a feature called Leanback -- a way to watch YouTube videos on Google TV or any large screen. With its simple controls and
full-screen viewing, Leanback makes watching videos on YouTube effortless.
Aside from the YouTube promotion, Google on Wednesday pushed out an automatic software update for Google TV, and
fixes to bugs. The four improvements to the platform make Netflix more accessible through an enhanced app that allows users to search, browse and watch any movie or show in the streaming catalog, as
well as title them in the DVD queue to be mailed. It also will make recommendations based on previous views of other movies.
Dual view brings TV and Web together to watch TV shows and browse
Web sites at once -- for example, watching a TV show and tweeting simultaneously. Google also introduced a remote control app for Android phones and a movie results page that shows all the flicks
associated with the title to flip through the options.