Google is thought to be keen to strengthen the service before expanding into overseas markets.Īlso today, The Only Way Is Essex producer FremantleMedia announced a partnership with WireWAX for a study into next generation, "taggable" online video technology. SageTV integration could make it possible to make your DVR recordings available anywhere and on any device. Google TV has struggled after the three major US networks - ABC, CBS and NBC - refused to allow content from their websites to appear on it.
The technology is expected to be used to boost Google TV, the IPTV platform launched in the US last autumn that blends TV and the web into a "seamless entertainment experience". Popular HTPC software provider SageTV has been acquired by Google, leading to speculation that the company’s media-center app could end up integrated into a future version of Google TV.
Sage's Media Centre software is a DVR service that enables users to watch and record live TV on PCs and Macs, and share it with others over a home network.
"We've seen how Google's developer efforts are designed to stimulate innovation across the web, and as developers have played a core role in the success of SageTV, we think our shared vision for open technology will help us advance the online entertainment experience." "By teaming up with Google, we believe our ideas will reach an even larger audience of users worldwide on many different products, platforms and services," said Sage. And it appears Google is prepared to address that shortcoming via their just announced acquisition of SageTV, the makers of HTPC DVR software and CE extenders. In a short statement, Sage said that the deal, for an undisclosed sum, would help the company grow and evolve its "vision of entertainment management". GoogleTV‘s biggest drawback, and an initial source of confusion, given the desire to capture Input 1 has been its lack of DVR capabilities. Google has acquired US digital video recorder (DVR) technology firm SageTV, as part of a presumed strategy to strengthen its struggling Google TV service.