Google acquires SageTV as it continues to bulk up TV effort

Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) continues to stir up those worried about its presence in the TV business. The search engine giant has acquired software vendor SageTV for an undisclosed sum and with the possibility of integrating the company's wares into its Google TV effort.

SageTV builds video recording software that lets people record live television from antenna TV, cable and satellite. It also has a place shifting feature that lets a viewer start watching on one device and continue watching elsewhere, including on mobile devices.

While the inclusion into Google TV seems logical on the surface, not everyone agrees. "Remember, Google already manages the program guide, channel changing and even automating your native DVR," SnapStream Founder Rakesh Agrawal blogged. "I consider it impossible that Google acquired SageTV so they could add native DVR capabilities to Google TV."

SageTV, in its announcement, said that the deal will allow it to "reach an even larger audience of users worldwide on many different products, platforms and services."

For more:
- CNET has this story

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