Disney/ESPN, Fox, Turner and HBO in Talks on Google Fiber TV

Media companies absent from Internet giant's initial IPTV lineup in Kansas City area

By Todd Spangler, Multichannel News -- Broadcasting & Cable, 7/27/2012 10:36:22 AM

Google is in discussions with programmers including Disney and ESPN Media Networks, Turner Broadcasting System, News Corp.'s Fox and HBO about carrying their cable networks on the IPTV service it is launching in the Kansas City area, the companies confirmed.

On Thursday, the Internet giant opened up registration for its ultra-fast 1 Gbps broadband service and Google Fiber TV -- which initially will have 161 channels, lacking big networks such as ESPN, Fox News Channel, HBO and Turner's TNT, TBS and CNN.

"Without the full suite of traditional cable channels, it is doubtful Google will be able to attract core TV viewers and get them to switch from traditional cable," Sanford Bernstein senior analyst Craig Moffett wrote in a research note Friday.

Click here to read the full story at Multichannel News.