Google Video Store Launches
The venerable Google , has changed the video on demand world, iTunes style. This new Google service allows pay per view,download for iPod/PSP , as well as plenty of free content.
The content will be protected via Googles own DRM, and viewable only in the Google Video Player(except for downloads). The most interesting thing that sets them apart from iTunes/Apples’ licensing deal with CBS etc., is the variety of content providers they have signed up. These include CBS and the NBA, but also Mark Cuban’s HDNET, and a number of other interesting providers. The most lucrative part of this, may be the actual content they are getting from CBS. This includes all of the currently popular prime time shows, plus old Star Trek episodes, The Brady Bunch, Twilight Zone. Add in music videos and movies, and you have a great place to go for video content, from a company that can still have the motto “Don’t Be Evil” . The only real complaints so far have been about the price to quality ratio in comparison to other video providers. I get the feeling that the variety of content may win out here though.
Should be interesting to see how Google and Apple change the way the TV/Movie industry looks at the Internet. Maybe the MPAA will calm down a little bit once they realize they’re making money. In the land of the Tivo, and ad-skipping, this could be one of the only ways for these industries to continue making money year over year.
