Google TV: On the Heels of AppleTV

Today, just days after Apple’s recently re-invented AppleTV hit stores last Friday, Google announced an update on Google TV—the first official progress report since Google TV’s introduction at Google I/O five months ago.

Google assured us that, despite the long silence, it hasn’t been asleep at the wheel. In this morning’s blog post, Google wrote, “since our announcement, we’ve been overwhelmed by interest from partners on how they can use the Google TV platform to personalize, monetize and distribute their content in new ways.”

These new partners include Turner Broadcasting, which has “optimized” its websites (including TBS, TNT, CNN, Cartoon Network and Adult Swim) for viewing on Google TV; NBC Universal, which has collaborated with Google TV to create financial news and information application CNBC Real-Time that can be used simultaneously while viewing CNBC programming; HBO, which is launching HBO GO, allowing authenticated subscribers to view programming on demand; and NBA, whose NBA Game Time app lets fans follow scores and catch up on highlights.

Other partners include video sites Amazon Video On Demand and Netflix, music sites VEVO, Pandora, and Napster, news and information sites The New York Times, USA Today, and Twitter, and online networks blip.tv and YouTube.

Google also launched a new Google TV website, which provides information about more of  Google TV’s features, including search functionality, full web browsing, apps, a smart phone remote, and a picture-in-picutre dual view that allows users to watch and surf simultaneously. The site features Google TV’s enhanced DVR for DISH Network subscribers, and highlights the Google Chrome integration, which provides full web surfing on the TV.

Google TV will be available on smart TVs like the Sony Internet TV and separate boxes like the Logitech Revue.