AfterDawn: News

All major broadcasters are now blocking Google TV

Fox has said today that it will join its competitors ABC, CBS and NBC in blocking video from playing on Google's new Google TV service.

Last month, the first three broadcasters began blocking streams with Fox being the lone holdout. That has changed, as of this week.



Google responded: "Google TV enables access to all the Web content you already get today on your phone and PC, but it is ultimately the content owners’ choice to restrict their fans from accessing their content on the platform."

Google TV gives users a chance to watch web videos and browse websites alongside their regular TV shows.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 12 Nov 2010 1:46

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• 23 comments

• KillerBug

  "but it is ultimately the content owners’ choice to restrict their fans from accessing their content"
  
  ...and it is ultimately the fans' choice to stop watching.

  12.11.2010 03:06 #1

• Tristan_2

  ......The old Broadcasters are really showing their fear on this move, They are in a sense limiting Google's first amendment rights with this, This truly shows them afraid of our Power as Citizens with the content we ourselves provide on youtube and what we desire.
  

  12.11.2010 05:23 #2

• KillerBug

  It is mainly just that they all want to do what fox did...force cable/sat companies (and ultimately their subscribers) to pay more to rebroadcast what is already paid for by excessive commercials.
  
  Fox isn't worth showtime money...for what they are charging, it should be commercial-free...the only reasons that it isn't commercial-free are general greed and the fact that it is nothing but a rebroadcast of a free signal that already has the commercials that pay for everything; even the costs of broadcasting.
  

  12.11.2010 05:54 #3

• 21Q

  I don't see why they block it. Anyone could just as easily hook up their computer to their tv and it's the same thing. So it just doesn't make sense to me.
  

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  12.11.2010 09:37 #4

• ugc

  Originally posted by 21Q: I don't see why they block it. Anyone could just as easily hook up their computer to their tv and it's the same thing. So it just doesn't make sense to me. +1 that is exactly what I was thinking when I read this. What good/bad are they trying to prevent by this action? I don't get it.

  12.11.2010 11:11 #5

• mortonmanor (unverified)

  Originally posted by ugc: Originally posted by 21Q: I don't see why they block it. Anyone could just as easily hook up their computer to their tv and it's the same thing. So it just doesn't make sense to me. I think that there are a couple of issues here: 1) Not all content owners have given the networks license to distribute content over the Internet for the TV. While it is a small difference to us that are more technical, Google TV is designed to view on the TV, while a Windows or Mac is designed to display on a computer and is only incidental to being connected to a TV.
  2) As others pointed out, they are very afraid of losing revenue from broadcast advertising and cable subs.

  12.11.2010 11:35 #6

• ee2skater

  Originally posted by mortonmanor: Originally posted by ugc: Originally posted by Q21: I don't see why they block it. Anyone could just as easily hook up their computer to their tv and it's the same thing. So it just doesn't make sense to me. +1 that is exactly what I was thinking when I read this. What good/bad are they trying to prevent by this action? I don't get it. I think that there are a couple of issues here: 1) Not all content owners have given the networks license to distribute content over the Internet for the TV. While it is a small difference to us that are more technical, Google TV is designed to view on the TV, while a Windows or Mac is designed to display on a computer and is only incidental to being connected to a TV.
  2) As others pointed out, they are very afraid of losing revenue from broadcast advertising and cable subs.
  TV Tuner in my PC = TV + Internet. Why do I feel like these large corporations have no f*cking clue what computers can do and how they work?

  12.11.2010 11:54 #7

• ZippyDSM

  WOw.... I don;t even watch TV anymore, would watch it on the if its in a free and easy to access format. Oh well Torrent FTW!
  

  Until lobbying is a hanging offense I choose anarchy!
  Ah modern gaming its like modern film only the watering down of fiction and characters is replaced with shallow and watered down mechanics, gimmicks and shiny-er "people".
  http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com/

  12.11.2010 12:01 #8

• Mez

  Originally posted by ee2skater:
  TV Tuner in my PC = TV + Internet. Why do I feel like these large corporations have no f*cking clue what computers can do and how they work? That is the problem will ALL big business. The decision makers got to where they are not by doing anything of value but by being fantastic liars and being able to blame any of their mistakes on others. They are ALL very persuasive morons with very few exceptions.

  12.11.2010 13:07 #9

• themind

  Good thing the net can form into anything it wants depending on your area/computer/tv/phone/ip provider. That way information can flow evenly.

  12.11.2010 13:08 #10

• Gorgoroth

  2) As others pointed out, they are very afraid of losing revenue from broadcast advertising and cable subs.
  
  Advertising is very likely, in all realities, a crapshoot... JUST because certain ads run in certain times of day does NOT mean consumers are going to buy their products. The whole goal of advertising is to reach as many people as possible... So, from a business standpoint, the people MAKING and SELLING the ads should be okay with people watching google tv. It's very difficult to measure just HOW effective commercials are, unless you're monitoring people's TV Viewing habits...
  
  If the broadcasters are REALLY concerned about this, maybe they should consider different tiered pricings for the advertisers since google tv is one more medium of advertising that they wouldn't have gotten otherwise... If you're watching google tv and not THEIR broadcast show, you're still going to see the ads, which is what they BOTH want... The broadcasters aren't being very smart...
  
  

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  12.11.2010 18:20 #11

• ZippyDSM

  Why is it soi hard to translate net traffic into viewership?
  Are they afraid of the cold hard numbers they can not make up?
  

  Until lobbying is a hanging offense I choose anarchy!
  Ah modern gaming its like modern film only the watering down of fiction and characters is replaced with shallow and watered down mechanics, gimmicks and shiny-er "people".
  http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com/

  12.11.2010 21:10 #12

• DXR88

  Originally posted by ZippyDSM: Why is it soi hard to translate net traffic into viewership?
  Are they afraid of the cold hard numbers they can not make up? The only thing we have to fear is Fear itself.
  
  and their greatest fear is not being able to grease there money grubbing palms.
  

  Powered By
  
  

  12.11.2010 22:27 #13

• xnonsuchx

  Originally posted by Tristan_2: ......The old Broadcasters are really showing their fear on this move, They are in a sense limiting Google's first amendment rights with this, This truly shows them afraid of our Power as Citizens with the content we ourselves provide on youtube and what we desire.
  I wasn't aware the "old Broadcasters" were the government.

  13.11.2010 01:23 #14

• KillerBug

  Originally posted by Gorgoroth: 2) As others pointed out, they are very afraid of losing revenue from broadcast advertising and cable subs. That is funny...they don't know how effective the advertising will be, so they don't advertise at all. Don't bother reading any of the research on the subject or anything; better to completely ignore something that generates over a billion dollars per year just on mobile advertising for one device.
  
  There was a time that I thought it was a bad thing that the simpsons had gone to crap...now it is just a relief that I have no reason to watch network TV.
  

  13.11.2010 04:07 #15

• rae2

  When our TV died last February we chose to NOT replace it. We cancelled our satellite service and now save about $700 per year.
  
  We've also discovered we now have about 1,460 hours available per year for other activities - reading, listening to music, playing on the internet, walking on our acreage and generally just enjoying life without a commercial break every 10 minutes. Even the news became unwatchable - the anchors actually think we tune in because of THEIR fascinating personalities! Jerks. Our greatest regret is that we didn't realize years ago how much we were being taken for suckers.
  
  Our apologies to the VERY FEW well made, intelligent programs that are on TV. I bet they regret they find themselves surrounded by the worthless flotsom and jetsam that clogs up the airwaves. In any case, we wouldn't have TV back in our house now if THEY paid US what we figure OUR TIME is worth.

  13.11.2010 10:01 #16

• raven30

  Originally posted by 21Q: I don't see why they block it. Anyone could just as easily hook up their computer to their tv and it's the same thing. So it just doesn't make sense to me. you are right lol

  13.11.2010 18:52 #17

• LeMike

  And blocking ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox will affect whom? These are broadcast channels, so you can just hang a pair of rabbit ears to get them if you're that desperate; otherwise use the BBC and the Telegraph to get your daily news and improve your world knowledge!

  14.11.2010 00:00 #18

• rae2

  @LeMike...
  We too were addicted to our daily dose of "world knowledge."
  
  I used the word "addicted" because there are millions around the globe that arrange their schedules so they won't miss "the news." They are terrified they won't know "the latest."
  
  And you know what "the latest" is comprised of? Perhaps one or two articles of real value and the rest is filler - who cares whose car plowed into whose? - Who cares what politician today was caught with his/her hand in the cookie jar? - What possible difference could it make to your life if some Mafia boss was gunned down while getting a haircut in New York?
  
  99% of what makes "The News" is useless crap and knowing about it won't improve anything in your life. What WILL improve your life is living it WITHOUT TV.

  14.11.2010 07:23 #19

• zelrik (unverified)

  great, now I want to buy Google TV even more. All the bad guys wont be on it. :D

  14.11.2010 16:28 #20

• Ben79

  Originally posted by KillerBug: It is mainly just that they all want to do what fox did...force cable/sat companies (and ultimately their subscribers) to pay more to rebroadcast what is already paid for by excessive commercials. This is the entire reason I do not have cable or sat television. I buy what I want to watch via DVD. So I have to wait a few months to see it, but I get to see it commercial free. Besides 80% of what is on TV is crap I don't want to watch. The other 20% I can get from DVD and spend less $$$ vs. the monthly subscription.
  
  Out.

  15.11.2010 09:44 #21

• babelfish

  Originally posted by ee2skater: Originally posted by mortonmanor: Originally posted by ugc: Originally posted by Q21: I don't see why they block it. Anyone could just as easily hook up their computer to their tv and it's the same thing. So it just doesn't make sense to me. +1 that is exactly what I was thinking when I read this. What good/bad are they trying to prevent by this action? I don't get it. I think that there are a couple of issues here: 1) Not all content owners have given the networks license to distribute content over the Internet for the TV. While it is a small difference to us that are more technical, Google TV is designed to view on the TV, while a Windows or Mac is designed to display on a computer and is only incidental to being connected to a TV.
  2) As others pointed out, they are very afraid of losing revenue from broadcast advertising and cable subs.
  TV Tuner in my PC = TV + Internet. Why do I feel like these large corporations have no f*cking clue what computers can do and how they work? i guess they know that savvy users can always get round such bollocks.
  
  btw - isnt BBC one of the biggest networks in the world? they seem to love giving away stuff they charge me for :(
  

  :: If you were a woman i'd sock you - Peter Griffin ::

  16.11.2010 10:10 #22

• Mez

  Originally posted by babelfish: i guess they know that savvy users can always get round such bollocks.
  
  btw - isnt BBC one of the biggest networks in the world? they seem to love giving away stuff they charge me for :( No they don't because they are utter morons! They think they are all powerful.

  16.11.2010 10:43 #23