Google to Bring Its Search Services to Televisions

Let’s start the take-over conspiracy theories once again, everyone. Google appears to be going after a new industry. We’re talking about television. You see, according to The Wall Street Journal, “people familiar with the matter” say that Google in partnership with Dish Network is testing a new television-programming search service that will allow users to find shows on the satellite-television service and even videos from YouTube. Additionally, users will be able to “personalize a lineup of shows,” said the same people.

The new service is said to work through special Android-based set-top boxes, which Google began testing last year with its own employees and their families. Sources say that the service could be discontinued at any time. Google is aiming to catch up with companies such as Microsoft and Apple, who already provide services that integrate television into the web. Both Google and Dish Network declined to comment, stating they do not comment on rumor or speculation.

Besides Dish, Google is rumored to have been talking to other cable providers and even hardware manufacturers, encouraging them to use its Android platform on their products.

Of course, this isn’t the first time Google ventures into the television industry. The Mountain View-based search giant has been offering and selling ads for television with varying degrees of targeting since 2007 in almost 100 different cable networks nationwide.

More as we learn new information. In the meantime, let us know what you think about Google offering search on cable networks. Is it something you, as a consumer, are interested in?