Google announced some major content partners for its Google TV platform and revealed some more information on the Android-and Intel Atom-based IPTV platform. New Google TV content partners include Turner Broadcasting, NBC Universal, HBO, Twitter, and Amazon.com, says the company.

Google has secured support for Google TV from Turner Broadcasting, NBC Universal, HBO, Amazon and several others, paving the way for an ambitious launch this month.

Google TV is the search engine's bid to successfully wed television programming with web surfing. For example, users will be able to watch TV, surf the Internet and access web applications such as YouTube and Twitter from a special remote control with a keyboard.

Google TV interface, from new YouTube video (see below)

The product, based on Google's Android 2.1 operating system, is set to launch on Sony Internet TVs and Logitech's companion box this month. Google TV will also compete with Apple's more modest Apple TV product.

Not long after Google introduced Google TV in May, skeptics claimed the company, which had no television service experience, would not garner enough support for the fledgling service from broadcasters wary of the competition. The skeptics may be wrong.

"Since our announcement, we've been overwhelmed by interest from partners on how they can use the Google TV platform to personalize, monetize and distribute their content in new ways," said Ambarish Kenghe, developer product manager for Google TV.

Kenghe added that while most of the partner websites will work with Google TV, some are tailoring their content for Google TV on the television.

Specifically, Turner Broadcasting is optimizing TBS, TNT, CNN, Cartoon Network and Adult Swim for Google TV.

NBC Universal worked with Google TV to create CNBC Real-Time, an application that lets users track stocks and access news feeds from a web-enabled TV.

Twitter for Google TV lets users access their Twitter accounts through the Chrome browser on Google TV, and do all of the things they are accustomed to doing on Twitter.com through the desktop or mobile phone. This includes tweet, retweet, @mentions, trending topics, recent searches and favorites.

HBO has written HBO Go to grant Google TV users access to its original programming. Meanwhile, NBA has built NBA Game Time, an application that lets users track game scores and watch highlights in HD.

On the content side, Amazon Video on Demand agreed to offer users access to over 75,000 titles for rental or purchase. Netflix, meanwhile, will allow users to stream movies and TV shows to the Google TV-enabled TV.

The New York Times and USA Today, and music sites VEVO, Pandora and Napster are also on board.

Logitech's Google TV-enabled Revue

While the broadcasting, content and media partnerships have been made, the service has to be attainable, too. Fortunately, Logitech Oct. 6 is expected to roll out its Logitech Revue (pictured above) set-top box, which will play Google TV on users' existing televisions. Sony is slated to unveil its Google-TV enabled TVs and Blu-ray players Oct. 12. Both events are scheduled for New York City.

 

Google's new YouTube video on Google TV apps
(Click to play)

Availability

Google's rundown of Google TV features, which include support for thousands of TV-oriented Android apps, may be found here. Meanwhile, DeviceGuru offers a summary of the Google TV features, with comparisons to other major IPTV platforms, such as D-Link's Boxee Box, here.

Clint Boulton is a regular contributor to our sister publication eWEEK.

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