Posted by The Blogging Desk on Mon, Nov 29, 2010
Techcrunch:
Google TV might be in a bit of a pickle if a Best Buy and Sony sale is any indication. The platform launched a few weeks ago with the Logitech Revue and Sony Internet TV. Both are loaded with the same system and so both are suffering the fate of Big Media’s blockade. It’s a sad story, really. Google TV aimed to bridge the span between subscription-based TV and Internet content, but so far said bridge is still held up bybureaucratic red tape nonsense.
Sony seems to be solving one of the platform’s biggest deal breakers: the price. Google TV units are crazy expensive. The Logitech Revue launched at $300 and that price is still holding strong even at retailers like Amazon amidst nearly site-wide Black Friday sales. It’s the Sony set-top box model that’s uncharacteristically on sale right now even though it’s less than a month old. This doesn’t look so well for Google’s living room takeover plans.
Say it ain't so, Google TV!
For those that may have missed some stunning articles on the topic, Google TV piggy-backs onto your cable subscription and offers you a browser to view online videos and also play apps. There was one tiny problem in all of that. The networks didn't want you watching their free online content using a Google TV.
Viacom recently joined ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox as the networks that refuse to have their content viewed for free via the Google TV browser. Oops! Maybe Google should have contacted these groups before selling their product as the ultimate video viewer. Sounds like they need some work on their strategy.
So what do these price-drops mean? Is this the end of the Google TV?
I do love me some innovation, but it most likely is indeed the end of Google TV in its current form. If anything, the product will serve as an Android OS for cable providers. Before Android and iOS, most phones sold had clunky operating systems. Heck, most ran Windows Mobile. Now, carriers can throw Android on their phones for pretty much no cost. I expect the same to happen with carrier set-top boxes.
Just don't expect the innovation that Google was hoping for.
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