As Google runs YouTube, increases the premium original programming available on it, expands Google Fiber, and tries to get Google TV on more devices, it only makes sense that Google try to launch a full on alternative to cable and satellite television.
According to a report from The Wall Street Journal, the company is pretty much trying to do just that. The report says Google has approached unspecified media companies about licensing content for an Internet TV service that would stream traditional TV programming, that it has pitched licensing ideas to these companies over the past copule years, and that Google has even provided a demo of such a service to at least one of the companies.
Of course Google isn’t commenting on any of this.
With details as sketchy and few as they are, it’s pretty noteworthy if Google actually already has a product it’s showing these unnamed media companies – presumably those that run popular cable networks. Google has tried to get a concept like this off the ground in the past, but has never been able to win over the networks. Perhaps having an actual product to show will help in the negotiations.
It’s obviously unclear how such a service would manifest itself, as in would it be a part of YouTube (which already has apps on many popular consumer devices) or a completely new standalone offering?
Meanwhile, Intel is working on its own TV service, and Apple is said to have been talking to media companies as well.
