Google and No. 2 U.S. satellite TV operator Dish Network Corp are jointly testing a television programming search service, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the matter.
The paper said the service runs on TV set-top boxes which use elements of Google’s (NASDAQ: GOOG) Android wireless operating system. It allows users to search content from Dish as well as Web sites such as YouTube, and to personalize the lineup of shows.
More set-top boxes and TV sets with Internet access are becoming available to consumers including a new Web-enabled device from TiVo Inc, the set-top box maker. Dish’s sister company EchoStar also makes set-top boxes but together with Dish has been caught up in a long and potentially expensive patent dispute with TiVo.
The Journal said Google hopes to link the new service with its fledgling TV ad-brokering business, allowing it to target ads to individual households based on customer data.
A spokeswoman for Dish declined to comment while a spokesperson for Google was not immediately available.