Amazing how quickly the television space is changing. As Google unveiled its new one-gigabit-per-second fiber service in Kansas City today, it made a surprise announcement: residents will be able to sign up for a new Google Fiber TV service with a respectable list of channels out of the gate, tablet viewing, searchable programming, a HD DVR (up to 500 hours and 8 shows at once) and a free Google Nexus tablet thrown in to use as a remote control.
The service also promises that viewers will be able to “share what you are watching with your friends and keep up with what people are talking about.”
The TV package runs $120 a month (fiber broadband plus the TV service) with a $300 set-up to wire the fiber to the home (which Google is waiving at first for one-year contracts). Of course, it’s just available in Kansas City for now — and in only neighborhoods that commit to enough subscribers to bring it there — but announcement sends a message that Google is now in the TV business for real.
Here’s the presentation from today. Fast-forward to 28:54 for the TV demo.