Judging from this year's CES, it looks as though the Internet's first big battle between major media companies will be over broadband content. Indeed, Google, Yahoo!, AOL, Apple, MSN and a few new
players have all entered the fray over for-pay broadband TV and video. As the
Hollywood Reporter's Diane Mermigas points out, a proliferation of broadband content on new media devices means
Google's search services will be needed more than ever. Having said that, several reports have noted with disappointment the half-baked state of Google's video search technology, which leaves the door
open a crack for other providers. Mermigas suggests that Google could be stretching itself too thin by trying to have its hand in everything. Beyond broadband video, companies once thought to be in
different sectors could find themselves competing for control of the living room. Intel, Microsoft and Dell have all announced their intentions to make an affordable, interactive and wireless home
media center a reality. Meanwhile, companies like News Corp. and Google are said to be dabbling in providing Wi-Fi Internet service, which means cable companies will have to fight hard to protect
their territory--especially following a $60 billion investment in fiber optic systems.
Read the whole story at Hollywood Reporter »