SFR set to launch TV content search engine from Google

French mobile and broadband operator SFR will launch a search engine for TV content in partnership with Google in early July. The new feature will use Google Search Appliance and will be accessible from the Neufbox Evolution STB's home page, enabling customers to find programmes by searching for keywords. It will mine a database of over 100,000 TV and VoD titles to find whatever nugget viewers seek. The system will also use predictive typing, making ten suggestions when the first letter is entered on the basis of the ten most sought items. The ten most popular search terms will be listed on the home page. SFR intends to extend the content search engine to customers' personal videos store within the Neufbox Evolution's Mediacentre function. SFR and Google have collaborated on the Picasa photo storage and retrieval app, currently available to all Neufbox users. The operator has also added a seven-channel VoD portal and said it would expand the line-up to around 20 channels by the end of the year, starting with MyTF1, RTL9 and BFM TV after the summer holidays.