Google testing television search with Dish Network

Google Inc. is testing a new television-programming search service with Dish Network Corp., according to people familiar with the matter, the latest development in a fast-moving race to combine Internet content with conventional TV.

The service, which runs on TV set-top boxes containing Google software, allows users to find shows on the satellite-TV service as well as video from Web sites like Google's YouTube, according to these people. It also lets users to personalize a lineup of shows, these people said.

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Google Television? It isn’t as crazy as it sounds and it could soon be available to Dish Network consumers following a story published in today’s Wall Street Journal.

According to the story, Google has been testing "television programming search service" for the past year in a partnership withDish Network, Corp., who supports a subscriber base in excess of 14 million. Surprisingly, the story is also quick to point out that the project “could be discontinued at any time.”

The service, would run on TV set-top boxes containing Google software, allowing users to find shows on the satellite-TV service as well as video from Web sites like Google's YouTube. In addition, the service will also (if it comes to pass) allow users to personalize a lineup of shows, all by conducting a search using a keyboard, instead of a remote control.

Why would Google desire an entry into television? To begin with, Google already controls internet search, is an increasingly dominant provider of phone operating systems, and by including Google Buzz in its widely used GMail service, is attempting to integrate Social Media services with email. The common thread in all of these areas lies at the core of Google’s business model, advertising. By getting into television, Google hopes to use the service to increase its revenue from AdWords to target ads to individual households based on viewing and TV search data.

Google isn’t alone in moving from the internet into the realm of television. Denizens of Dallas usingVerizon’s FIOS service have access to social media services like Facebook, and Twitter, in addition to added internet-based features from ESPN, Veoh, blip.tv and Dailymotion. Verizon also plans an open development platform to permit developers to write interactive FiOS TV applications that will be available through the Widget Bazaar.

What do you think of Google encroaching on another area of your life in order to increase advertising opportunities? Would having the option of using Google search on your television cause you to switch to Dish Network? Leave your feedback below, submit any questions to us via Formspring, visit ourFacebook page, or follow us on Twitter.