We’ve been asking for years how long it would take Google officially to get into the set-top business. Today we have some additional details, The Times reports that Google is working with Intel and Sony on an android-based platform using the Atom processor which “will present users with a new interface for TVs that lets them perform Internet functions like search while also pulling down Web programming like YouTube videos or TV shows from Hulu.com.”
Google has reportedly built a prototype set-top box, but the box business is a short term solution while we try to push new content to the dumb screen in your living room. In the long term, the underlying software integrated into consumer electronic devices offers the greatest opportunity for the future of content on all screens.
Google has overcome many of their largest hurdles in controlling the next generation of television. Back in 2008, pre-Android when Google announced their partnership with Panasonic they faced some major challenges in quality, navigation and relationships with content producers and distributors.
Today, they have a seat at the table with the largest media and content production companies, they have turned YouTube into a high quality destination, and they have in Android a platform that can compete with anything the existing Cable operators can offer.