This is so freaking cool. Google have beaten everyone else to the game and will be releasing their own IP TV.
I’m guessing this is what all the secret, 1337 only, meetings have been about lately. Obviously, someone’s talked though:

Watch shows through Google TV | This is Money

Watch shows through Google TV
Mark Prigg, Evening Standard
28 September 2005

GOOGLE is to begin broadcasting television programmes over the internet. The search engine has already signed up an American channel to provide programmes for Google TV and is in talks with the BBC to broadcast its shows as well.

The search engine hopes to build up a massive online database of programmes that can be searched and watched from any computer, with users able to search for episodes of any show from broadcasters who sign up to the service.

It will also let British viewers watch hit television shows from America months before they are broadcast in this country.

….

Although programmes will be free to watch at first, it is believed the company is developing a pay TV service that could, for example, charge British viewers a premium, to watch episodes that have not yet been broadcast here.

Google’s first move into TV is to broadcast a Chris Rock sitcom called Everybody Hates Chris. Users will be able to watch the programme at any time for a week after it is broadcast. To avoid piracy users cannot save the file to their computers. Google has signed a contract with American TV Channel UPN for its programmes with the BBC among UK broadcasters whose programmes could appear on the channel.

My spider-sense was so tingling when I saw the updated Google Video, but I only imagined they would be doing occasional promotions. Not launching a whole new global TV network. Game on!!