Major U.S. Networks Block Google TV

Although Sony recently released new TV models with Google TV built-in, the new technology that merges channel and web browsing may not as big as Google hoped it would. Recently, ABC, NBC, and CBS have all reported that they are blocking Google TV’s access to their online content. This considerably foils Google’s plans to become the pioneering figure behind the convergence of television and online content.

Although only three GoogleTV consoles are on the market now, this initial response by big networks to WebTV makes the expansion of Google’s plans unpromising. PCWorld reported that currently, all content on Hulu.com is also inaccessible with GoogleTV. Journalists claim that networks fear losing control over delivery, while others say that Google’s immense advertising power will make revenue losses for the broadcasting industry inevitable, something "incredibly disruptive" to television companies' business model, according to AdAge editor Michael Learnmonth.

Google is now in talks with Walt Disney and NBC Universal in attempts to gain access to channels’ content through GoogleTV.

Back in May when Google announced its plans to develop WebTV, product manager Salahuddin Choudhary gave a promising mission statement:

"Google TV is a new experience for television that combines the TV that you already know with the freedom and power of the Internet. With Google Chrome built in, you can access all of your favorite websites and easily move between television and the web. This opens up your TV from a few hundred channels to millions of channels of entertainment across TV and the web."

But response from the major U.S. networks could halt web-television development for some time.