Number 1 search engine Google reportedly is teaming up with No. 2 U.S. satellite TV service Dish Network to develop a new TV programming search service, a report in the Wall Street Journal indicates.
The new test service will run on any set-top box that has Google software, giving users the chance to find shows through Dish Network and video clips on YouTube.
Google has continued to diversify away from just online search -- it has become involved in mobile phones, tablets and netbooks, operating systems, Web browsers, and in the enterprise.
Ideally, Google hopes to offer TV viewers custom targeted ads depending on customer viewing data, but it remains unknown how Google plans to do this. The company’s open source Android OS also will have a role in the living room, but testing is still in the early stages.
When a TV viewer goes to search for television and Internet video content, they'll be greeted by the Google home page, along with the company's display and keyword ads. Since many TV viewers have been disappointed with lackluster search services provided by cable and satellite providers, a Dish Network partnership with Google could prove to be beneficial.
Instead of using a remote control, users reportedly can enter search queries using a new keyboard -- a lot of different formats are being tested, so it's unknown what services will be included once it exits internal testing.
The use of set-top boxes, Blu-ray players and video game consoles to access Web-based content has become increasingly popular, with analysts expecting the trend to continue along further.
