Like YouTube Music replacing Play Music, I do wonder if Google TV will eventually be subsumed by YouTube from a product and branding perspective.
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Most of the discovery and all of the store/purchasing capabilities of Google TV, previously Play Movies & TV, can be found in YouTube today. Accessing purchases in the YouTube app takes a bit longer but is more than possible.
Google TV’s big advantage, and why I use the app today, is how it acts as a directory for streaming services. Going to a movie or show listing will let you see where it’s available. However, that functionality is also available in Google Search, which is more ubiquitous and doesn’t require a separate app.
While I think both of those core Google TV competencies are worth having in a focused, standalone application, will Google share that belief in the long run?
In terms of advantages, YouTube has a pretty good official collection of free movies and television shows. There are also unofficial uploads, which are perpetual gold mines. In this regard, YouTube is both the provider and content directory that people are already familiar with. YouTube also already has the same movie purchasing abilities as Google TV, syncing with other means of purchasing with your Google account.
One complication in getting rid of Google TV as a brand is the operating system that shares the name. I think that particular part of Google TV has a long lifespan, but at the same time, a YouTube experience and/or dongle could be interesting, given that the brand is synonymous with entertainment and media, more so than Google is.
Does it eventually make sense for the company to consolidate all media-related products under YouTube as part of an efficiency drive? It’s already happening with podcasts, with the Google-branded experience likely in maintenance mode, especially after RSS support is added to YouTube Music. Once that capability is added, I’m personally ready to switch over full-time for podcasts. Whatever complaints you have about YouTube Music (especially as a Play Music user who doesn’t appreciate the more general audience focus), its pace of testing and updates is commendable.
Anyways, chime in with your comments below. How do you use the Google TV mobile app?
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