Comcast: Google TV Isn't Compatible With Our 'TV Everywhere' Service

Comcast customers can't currently use a Google TV-based device to access authenticated programming on the MSO's TV Everywhere site -- but only because the Internet company's software is not compatible with the operator's video players, according to Comcast.

Separately, the Hulu-supplied video available on Comcast's Fancast.com -- which is available free to any user -- is blocked to Google TV. That's because Hulu, which is owned by NBC Universal, News Corp. and Walt Disney Co., wants to negotiate a deal to offer Hulu Plus subscription service through broadband-connected TV devices.

The current iteration of Comcast's Xfinity TV service uses a proprietary media player from Move Networks, the struggling startup in which Comcast is an investor. Over the next few months, Comcast will be migrating the authenticated Xfinity TV content to Microsoft's Silverlight media-delivery platform, according to the cable operator.

Comcast in late October officially launched the Xfinity TV online-video service, available to its 22.9 million cable TV subscribers, with a lineup that includes 25,000 TV show episodes for no additional charge. The MSO recently added shows from Showtime Networks and many from Viacom's networks to the TV Everywhere service, and also offers some 30,000 movies to stream, rent or buy to video subscribers.

But Google TV, which is built on the Android operating system designed for mobile phones, does not support either Silverlight or the Move Networks player. According to Google, it currently has no specific plan to add support for those.

Hulu delivers video through Adobe Systems' Flash, which is supported by Google TV. The two companies have been in discussions about a deal to provide Hulu Plus, the $10-per-month service that provides an expanded lineup of current TV shows and older ones, through Google TV devices. Meanwhile, broadcast networks including ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC are each preventing Google TV software from accessing video content on their own TV sites.

Best Buy has a limited-time program to offer free installation of Sony's Google TV-based televisions and Blu-ray Disc player through the holiday-shopping season. Dish Network, meanwhile, is offering Logitech's Revue set-top with the Google TV software to customers for $179 plus a $4 per month fee.

By Todd Spangler, Multichannel News