Google is now using its brand to cross promote television online with the release of Google Video an apparent Flash video player which is debuting the new UPN comedy “Everybody Hates Chris” featuring Chris Rock. What a nice seventh birthday surprise from Google. The video will be available for 4 days by going to: http://video.google.com/chris.html to view the entire first episode of the new television show.
The Google announcement further emphasizes the trend to cross promote television with online video as AOL and Yahoo have done in the past. I am sure we will see a lot more from Google Video in the months to come. Google Video already appears to be trying to go head-to-head with online viral video industry leader iFilm. They have released 20 random videos already where you can view random video and just reload the page and 20 fresh videos appear. Google could even go after NetFlix the by mail DVD rental service who is supposed to have online on-demand video technology in the works. Is this the beginning of a new channel called Google TV? It will be interesting to see where Google will ultimately take this one. Oh and I nearly forgot to mention, Google Video offers a video search too...surprised?
Check out Marketer Today, Techno Rant I, Rice Cooker, Today's Top Opinion and Boing Boing for the blogosphere perspective on Google Video.
