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Google finding Google TV a tough sell to networks

Wednesday, August 18, 2010 · 9:16 am · 32 Comments

“Google Inc. is launching a campaign to line up TV networks’ support for its new Google TV software, but many remain reluctant to partner with a service they believe encroaches on their turf,” Jessica E. Vascello reports for The Wall Street Journal.

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MacDailyNews Take: Eric T. Mole must have been recused from the Board meeting where Steve Jobs explained all this long ago.

Vascello continues, “In recent weeks, Google has met with officials of TV networks including ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC to encourage them to work with the service, according to people familiar with the matter. Content owners, though, are skeptical that Google can provide a business model that would compensate for potentially cannibalizing TV owners’ existing broadcast businesses.”

MacDailyNews Take: “The problem with innovation in the TV industry is the go-to-market strategy. The TV industry has a subsidized model that gives everyone a set-top box for free. So no one wants to buy a box. Ask TiVo, ask Roku, ask us; ask Google in a few months. All you can do is add a box to the TV. You just end up with a table full of remotes, a cluster of boxes – that’s what we have today. The only way that’s going to change is if you tear up the set-top box, give it a new UI, and get it in front of consumers in a way that they’re going to want it. The TV is going to lose in our eyes until there is a better go-to-market strategy; otherwise you’re just making another TiVo.” – Apple CEO Steve Jobs, June 1, 2010

Vascello continues, making a point in her text and the accompanying graphic that Google TV will be able to play YouTube videos, but inexplicably failing to mentioning in her text or the accompanying graphic that Apple TV has been playing YouTube videos since June 2007.

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Comment Feed

32 Comments

1 2 Next »

breeze

Wednesday, August 18, 2010 - 9:20 am · Reply

One day it’ll be obvious, in the not to distant future, why hobbies turn into solid products.
breeze

Wednesday, August 18, 2010 - 9:22 am · Reply

You too?
bildad

Wednesday, August 18, 2010 - 9:23 am · Reply

Apple’s working in stealth mode on cracking this nut. Watch.
SneakyBastards

Wednesday, August 18, 2010 - 9:27 am · Reply

Apple, masters of the feint.
lange lovell

Wednesday, August 18, 2010 - 9:32 am · Reply

Maybe it’s because for most people outside the USA there’s no decent content. In most (if not, but I can’t access all the stores) countries in Europe (maybe not Apple main focus, but it’s a market ) it’s impossible to get (rent, buy or whatever) movies or series.

You’re stuck with a youtube and “play your own stuff” box… Not really interesting..

This issue is unfortunately not easily resolved…
Jersey_Trader

Wednesday, August 18, 2010 - 9:35 am · Reply

So, for now, make a VCR like device. Like an internet bridge. It could take the HD and non HD media and record it the same way a VCR did not care about the source. The device could push it to the AppleTV or Apple’s billion dollar cloud storage service or just stream it to your TV. If a cable company or the officials of TV networks want in, they will have to strike a deal with Apple.

The officials of TV networks will block and push Apple back until they can’t say NO! They could not stop a VCR so they can’t stop an all digital iVCR like device!
iGads

Wednesday, August 18, 2010 - 9:42 am · Reply

Still have my Apple TV. Have not rented a movie from anywhere else in years, why? Have a small collection that I’ve “borrowed” and still enjoy using it as my MTV style (when they actually played music videos all the time) music video for parties and get togethers. I see no reason to change unless something better comes along.
Hate the freak’n cable and satellite companies but what do you do. Renting freak’n giant boxes sucks and to tell you the truth, the ugliest freak’n thing in my rooms that I spend money trying to hide and don’t even get me going on those freak’n remotes.
I would love to be able to pick up HD with a basic antenna if I could have have just a few channels but I can’t where I live so I’m stuck paying. It sucks!
LE Studios

Wednesday, August 18, 2010 - 9:50 am · Reply

yeah that’s what Google dumb ass! Get they actually think that Steve Jobs did that anybody can do it. Netflix can’t even get networks support. What’s the deal is that Networks already figured out that they make more money with Apple then lose money with other services like Netflix. They not going to cannibalize it’s sales for Netflix or Google!

HBO Delivers Streaming HD Video to IPad
silverwarloc

Wednesday, August 18, 2010 - 9:52 am · Reply

I shut down the big tv long ago. The only tv left in the house is in the master bedroom. It turned out to be the best thing I ever did. Now the kids are more active.
TheMacAdvocate

Wednesday, August 18, 2010 - 9:56 am · Reply

The real problem Google faces is that partners see what the company really is: an ad company. This presents at least 2 problems off the top of my head:

1. Google’s history shows they have less interest in making their OSs the best they can possibly be. Their vested interests are getting their OS on as many devices as they can and pushing their identity-grifting on as many consumers as possible. Their UI is serviceable, but a distant second to Apple’s. Apple, OTOH, is interested in selling hardware and making the hardware the best it can possibly be. Their focus is singular. Witness what Apple did for ATT. With one piece of hardware, they single-handedly brought that carrier back from obscurity.

2. Networks deal with advertisers now. For the networks to enter into a deal where the UI to access their content is controlled by an *advertiser*, well, let’s just say the analogy of letting their current advertisers decide when the networks’ content gets aired wouldn’t be too much of a stretch. Google is also now on record as less than supportive of 100% net neutrality, so the idea that Google is interested in or would be open to “tiering” access to web content is now on the table.

If Apple and Google are both knocking on the networks’ door for a potential partnership, it’s a no-brainer who will do more for the networks’ content.
tt

Wednesday, August 18, 2010 - 9:59 am · Reply

apple is incorporating everything into the TV, one remote as in apple TV will be used. Apple re invents the bridge from internet to TV, cable, dish’s etc.
MacTony

Wednesday, August 18, 2010 - 10:01 am · Reply

Unfortunately, I don’t think the networks will work with anyone. It’s all or nothing. The masses aren’t going to jump to a GoogleTV or iTV until the major networks get on board.
DogGone

Wednesday, August 18, 2010 - 10:20 am · Reply

For the networks and distributors (cable and satellite) it’s all about advertising revenue. How is Google or even Apple going to replace that? Movies are in the same boat. Cinema, on demand, DVD. Each time the providers get a cut and they don’t want to lose out on that revenue.

I have 700 channel spewing out mostly crap and reruns. The only reason TV works for me anymore is the DVR. At least I can skip through the ads and don’t have to be around when a new episode is aired.

We have to believe that the new Apple server farm is going to be used for content distribution. Although, I have a hard time thinking the networks are going to jump on board wholesale and let Apple route their feeds through AppleTV.

Apple got the music biz to let go of their content because they were desperate. I don’t see the same desperation in TV or movie land.
hardmanb

Wednesday, August 18, 2010 - 10:23 am · Reply

“Apple’s working in stealth mode on cracking this nut. Watch.”

Exactly. Apple is continuing to invest research and development…as a “hobby” (Ho, Ho, Ho)…

Until the time is right, the ecology is right, Apple’s intellectual property rights are in place, and then to spring a “new” product that will take years for the competition to attempt to compete with.
mac_kid

Wednesday, August 18, 2010 - 10:47 am · Reply

OK I love apple to death however i really want a apple tv i have bought a few movies and i have tons of music videos i currently just plug my ipod to the av jack but i want a apple TV, however i cant get it when blockbuster has all them rental machines where it only costs $1 buck to rent if apple were able to do this 1 buck thing i would seriously go out in a heartbeat and get it. Is thier any reason as to y they are unable to do this i cant bring myself to pay 2.99 or 3.99 to rent a movie that most probably i will only see once I just dont get y apple cant do this. serioulsy is it the movie studios doing this if then y do they allow blockbuster or redbox the ability to do that?
emmayche

Wednesday, August 18, 2010 - 10:51 am · Reply

Adding atvFlash to my AppleTV has brought it up to 90% of the way there.

Now the atvFlash people just need to support a Blu-Ray reader on the USB port, and chances are that I can cut my cable.
acid

Wednesday, August 18, 2010 - 10:56 am · Reply

Even network execs aren’t stupid enough not to see that Google just want to share the pain on an investment that generates eye views but not revenue.

The fundamental problem with TV is the same as music and movies – no more original or fresh creation. It’s all the same old crap. But unlike music, people don’t have a vast collection of CDs to rip into an iPod to make it worthwhile. Those of us old enough know it’s all copies and do-overs. Those young enough to be entertained by rehashes either have no money or not willing to pay.
bizlaw

Wednesday, August 18, 2010 - 11:42 am · Reply

For anything to change our TV viewing experience, it is going to have to dramatically change how we use and access content, whether from Apple, Google, Netflix, etc. TiVo and DVRs were just the next evolutionary step from the VCR. Frankly, there’s not much to be had or hardware to be sold by Apple unless it offers something really different.

I believe Apple knows what that could be, but probably hasn’t worked out how to get the networks to come on board. TV is very different from the music distribution industry. Content is much more closely guarded and regulated by the content owners/providers. Music is strewn all over the place; TV shows are very much limited access.

What may eventually tip the scales is the decline of network TV in favor of cable. The problem here is that the big networks have seen this coming too, and have been buying up the major cable channels (NBC owns USA, Comedy Central, etc.). So the mindset won’t change, it’s just that audiences are being spread out thinner.

The interesting thing is that many of the most popular shows are not shows which will play well in syndication, like American Idol. We all know who won, so why watch it again next year or five years from now? It’s a very different show than Seinfeld or M*A*S*H in terms of watching it over and over. People also aren’t going to buy American Idol Season 3 on DVD, but they’ll buy True Blood.
Troy

Wednesday, August 18, 2010 - 12:09 pm · Reply

Are you sure Eric is not twin brother of Bill Gates? Didn’t Eric started at Microsoft? I see a lot of similarities.
Mac-nugget

Wednesday, August 18, 2010 - 12:36 pm · Reply

Two things I don’t like about my Apple TV, the crummy remote and that it gets buggy or stuck at times with no UI responsiveness. Other than that, I love the thing.