Google made its intentions to invade the living room
clear this week with a fresh update to its Google TV platform and a
plan to create 100 online video “channels” on its
YouTube
website that will feature original
programming from the likes of Madonna, Jay-Z, Ashton Kutcher and former NBA star Shaquille
O’Neal.
The company said it simplified the
Google TV software, which allows users to access the internet and
search for web-video content through their TV screens. Google also
said it improved the way people can simultaneously search for
content on their live TV listings as well as Google's YouTube video
site, on-demand shows available on Amazon.com and
Netflix
.com, among others.
Google hopes the new update can
reinvigorate a product that has so far met a lukewarm reception
since its initial release last year as it seamlessly integrates its
family of services.
"We’re launching a new YouTube
experience specifically built for Google TV," the company said in
a
blog post. "It is now fast and easy to get to your favorite
HD-quality YouTube entertainment. And we’ve integrated YouTube more
closely with Google TV search, so that you can turn virtually any
topic – mountain biking, cooking, etc. – into a channel."
Despite advances in technology, many
customers have been resistant to “cutting the cord.” This time, the
company promises to entice new users with exclusive content.
The new venture, in partnership with
dozens of media companies, Hollywood production companies, and online-video
creators, will generate about 25 hours of new, original programming
per day on YouTube. The majority of the roughly 100 channels will
launch next year, The
Wall
Street
Journal reported Saturday.
Also involved in the venture are
wellness guru Deepak Chopra, skateboarding legend Tony Hawk,
Rainn Wilson of "The Office" (who will be
featured in a comedy channel), and a Hispanic channel featuring
Sofia Vergara of "Modern Family." The
celebrities will partner with various production companies to
produce the content.
Madonna is expected to be involved in a
dance-related channel, and Jay-Z is expected to produce content
related to his Life + Times website, said people familiar with the
matter.
Google is hoping to turn YouTube into a
next-generation video provider that oversees free online channels
with professional-grade shows. YouTube is expected to give some
content creators 55 percent of the resulting ad revenue after
YouTube recoups the
cash
advances it paid them, some of the people
said. In Hollywood, such a split is considered to be generous.