ABC, CBS and NBC are blocking TV programming on their websites from being viewable on Google TV devices, the Wall Street Journal reports. Full-length episodes of TV shows cannot be run on the devices running Google TV, which Logitech and Sony launched this month. Spokespeople for the three networks confirmed that they are blocking the episodes on their websites from playing on Google TV, although both ABC and NBC allow promotional clips to work using the service. Over the summer, Google pressed major media companies to optimize their websites and videos to work more seamlessly with Google TV. Some outlets, such as HBO and Turner Broadcasting networks, did so, but many other companies declined to specifically optimize their websites, and some held out the possibility that they could block their content from the service, as the three networks are now doing. Some TV executives said they were worried their shows would be lost in the larger internet. Some, including Disney and NBC, were also concerned about Google's stance on websites that offer pirated content, according to people familiar with their thinking. Disney executives, for example, asked that Google filter out results from pirate sites when users search for Disney content, like Desperate Housewives. But they were unsatisfied with Google's response, according to the paper's sources. Google has tried to assure broadcasters and content owners that Google TV's search feature is optimized to promote their TV broadcasts and own websites' video content rather than pirated content. In addition, Google has told broadcasters and content owners they can submit requests to Google to delete unauthorized results from the Google TV search feature. The Hulu portal is also unavailable on Google TV, but the company said the two are in talks to bring the Hulu subscription service to the platform.
