Next-Gen TV to Follow 'Net Search Model

As they do battle to dominate the future of TV, cable and phone companies are looking to Google and Yahoo for help navigating the myriad shows that will be available via next-generation TV, reports Reuters (via paidcontent). Viewers in the near future will likely search for programs as they would on the web, executives in both industries said at the Reuters Telecommunications, Cable and Satellite Summit this week. Search becomes more important as pay television offers services such as video on demand and digital video recorders (DVR) fill up with more programs.

"If you're going to bring internet-like capabilities to television, eventually search is going to be as critical to the TV as it is to the PC," Brian Roberts, chief executive of Comcast said at the summit. Roberts said the company has held early discussions on how Google can improve Comcast's web portal and suggested those talks could have broad implications for cable TV.

Comcast has also begun testing voice navigation; SBC is figuring out its own search functions, possibly with Yahoo; Verizon too is on board: "You will get to the point where people will essentially Google what they want," according to Verizon president Lawrence Babbio.

Source: http://www.marketingvox.com/archives/2005/08/12/nextgen_tv_to_follow_net_search_model/index.php