TeleChimp | TV Journalism

With Google said to be working with Intel and Sony to develop a way to bring the best of the Internet to television, industry analysts wonder if the time for a smart TV has finally arrived.

People have been expecting a convergence of computers and television for a long time now, but it never really happened. Could it be that the time for this idea has finally come? Some say that with the likes of Google, Intel and Sony involved, it just may have.

"This is an interesting alignment of some serious industry powerhouses," said Dan Olds, an analyst with The Gabriel Consulting Group. "With this group, they have a lot of options to bring about a TV play, ranging from set-top boxes, to integrated TV processors, along with content from Google. It will be interesting to see what comes out of it."

Google and its partners are working to create what they're calling Google TV, a service aimed at putting the Internet search giant's Web offerings in people's living rooms, The New York Times reported on Wednesday. It would basically put Internet search on a TV, making it easier to find and watch content.

Google TV will combine Google's Android mobile operating system and applications with next-generation televisions and set-top boxes made to run the OS, according to The Times. The TV technology will run on Intel's Atom chips, the report says, and Google will develop a new version of its Chrome browser for the project. A Google spokesman told Computerworld today the company would not comment on rumors and speculation. Van Baker, an analyst with Gartner, said in a blog post today that he didn't have a lot of hope this idea would gain any real traction with consumers.

"Haven't we been here before?" asked Baker. "There have been countless products and services which are designed to bring Web connectivity to the television, starting with WebTV Networks in the early 1990s. There is only one problem with this vision: Consumers have repeatedly rejected these solutions."

But Olds noted that some consumers do want Internet-connected TV. One example of a service people want is Netflix, which lets customers go online to find videos they watch them via a Blu-ray or other device that streams Netflix service to televisions, rather than on their smaller computer screens.

Action/adventure channel AXN will launch a high-definition version in south-east Asia from May. Carriage on two unnamed platforms has already been secured.

SPE Networks is rolling out the HDTV version in south-east Asia following its launch in South Korea in March 2009. In South Korea, AXN HD is available on DTH platform, SkyLife, as well as all three IPTV platforms – Korea Telecom’s Qook TV, LG Dacom’s myLGtv and SK Broadband’s broad&tv.

Ricky Ow, Senior Vice President and General Manager, SPE Networks, Asia, said: “With the HD wave gathering momentum in Southeast Asia, and the rewarding results we received in Korea, we believe the time is right to expand AXN HD’s presence in this region. Besides the two major platform deals, we are also negotiating for additional carriage so that more viewers will get to experience AXN’s brand of high impact action and top-notch entertainment in the best visual quality.”

AXN HD’s programming includes NCIS: Los Angeles, CSI, CSI: NY and CSI: Miami.

The AXN brand was started by SPE in Asia before expanding to Latin America and Europe.

Popularity: 3% [?]

The Power of Three is making a comeback. Zenescope Entertainment revealed this week that they've obtained the comic book rights for "Charmed," a supernatural-themed TV series that aired on the WB Network for eight seasons. Created in 1998 by Constance M. Burge, the series followed three sisters — Piper (Holly Marie Combs), Phoebe (Alyssa Milano) and Paige (Rose McGowan) — who were descended from a long line of good witches and tasked to face the forces of evil. Zenescope's "Charmed" comic book series will pick up with an original story that takes place after the series' eighth season. Paul Ruditis and Raven Gregory ("The Gift") are co-writing the title with artist Dave Hoover ("Captain America"). Ruditis has written several books based on TV series — including "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Roswell" — in addition to two "Charmed" novels. "The key to this series success is to strike a nice balance in creating a brand new, intriguing storyline for fans of the television show while also not alienating Zenescope and comic book readers who haven't really followed it before but might want to now that it's a comic," said Zenescope Editor-in-Chief Ralph Tedesco. "The great thing is that Paul and Raven have done just that with this story arc," continued Tedesco. "Anybody will be able to pick up this series and follow it whether or not they ever watched the show before. Moreover, fans of the show are going to be thrilled when they see where this story goes." Given the newfound freedoms of the comic book medium, it may even be possible for characters like Prue (one of the original Halliwell sisters portrayed by Shannen Doherty) and Cole Turner (Julian McMahon) to return in some form. Both characters were written out of the "Charmed" TV series when their respective actors left the show. "Charmed # 0" will be released in June and the first issue will debut at the San Diego Comic-Con International in July.

WELL, only yesterday I was defending the Kate Winslet-Sam Mendes marriage breakup as having no "ulterior reason" – that is, no scandal, and no "other woman.""I KNOW nothing about sex because I vas alvays married," said Zsa Zsa Gabor, long ago. Now, according to the tabloids, it seems Sam was seeing somebody else, namely, actress Rebecca Hall of "Vicki Cristina Barcelona." So, this makes it look like the rabid British press was right after all. But I don’t think so. Kate and Sam were just finished with one another. No scandal!