Battered but unbowed? Maybe, but the blows keep on coming for Google, which has had little luck lining up premium content for its new Google TV offering.
Comcast customers who hoped to use the Google TV platform to access the company's TV Everywhere play, Xfinity, won't be able to because Comcast's service uses a proprietary media player from Move Networks, making the two incompatible.
It's just the latest blow to Google, which has been stung by the refusal of television networks ABC, CBS, NBC and, as of this week, Fox, to allow their content on Google TV. Hulu, owned by News Corp., Disney and NBC Universal, has blocked Google from showing its content since the platform launched last month.
And, while there is a chance that the Hulu Plus subscription service may someday come to Google TV, once it can work a deal with Google, it's going to be a while, if ever, before Xfinity finds its way onto the platform.
Google TV runs on the Android OS, a mobile phone platform. Android supports neither Move, nor Microsoft's Silverlight platform, which Xfinity will move to in coming months. For its part, Google hasn't announced plans to support either media player.
From the outset, Google has struggled to convince media companies that their content would be safe on the platform; neither has it been able to promote a business model that's appealing to broadcasters.
For more:
- see this article
Related articles:
Google goes 0-for-4 as Fox joins ABC, CBS, NBC in blocking Google TV
Google TV roll out hits some snags
Another door slammed in Google TV's face; fancast.com backdoor closed
Big 3 broadcasters block Google TV access to shows
Apple TV, Google TV: 'Nah, it can't work'
Will Google TV get Hulu? Not likely, unless it's Hulu Plus
Google TV: The dawn of interactive TV finally breaks