Google TV
Developer(s)Google
Initial releaseSeptember 2020 (2020-09)
Operating systemAndroid
iOS
Web
TypeDigital distribution
Websiteplay.google.com/store/movies

Google TV is a Digital distribution service for movies and TV shows. It is operated by Google. Announced in September 2020, as a service it allows users to search and discover video titles available across multiple streaming services as well as to rent or to buy available titles from Google and add any selected title to a watchlist for watching or accessing such titles from eligible devices and platforms. The buy, rent or preorder options were also part of Google Play Movies & TV, another service by Google which later was moved to Google TV service.

The purchased or rented video titles can be watched by a signed-in user through Google Search, YouTube and Google Play websites on web browsers; through the YouTube app on Android TV devices; on TVs with the Google TV interface; and through the Google TV app on Android and iOS phone or tablet devices. The Google TV mobile app can download video for offline watching. The search, discover and watchlist options are also available on the Google Search website, the Google TV app on mobile devices, TVs with Google Assistant and Google TV devices.

Overview

The Google TV service was announced in September 2020 along with the launch of Chromecast with Google TV as well as the release of an updated interface and features for some Android TVs.[1][2] At the same time, the Google Play Movies & TV app was also updated with same interface and was renamed to Google TV on Android mobile devices in the United States and aggregation of content across streaming services was added in the app.[2] The Google TV user interface is deeply integrated with the Google TV video service.[3]

The service expanded to iOS in June 2022.[4]

Geographic availability

Geographic availability of movies on Google TV
Geographic availability of TV shows on Google TV

Now part of Google TV service, movies on Google Play are available in 120 countries.[5]

The full country list includes: Albania, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, Fiji, France, Gabon, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Namibia, Netherlands, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Rwanda, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe [5]

Also, TV shows are only available in: Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States.[5]

Google TV app is available in: Albania, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belgium, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Namibia, Netherlands, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Rwanda, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, the United Kingdom, the United States, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.[5]

Features

Purchase and library access

The Google TV service offers options to rent or buy movies and television shows in various video resolutions including SD, HD and UHD, depending on geographic as well as devices and platform availability.[6]

Available content titles can be purchased through a Google TV device or the Google TV app. The purchase feature is not available on iPhone and iPad. The purchased content is added to the library associated with the signed-in Google Account.[6]

Content titles purchased through Google Play Movies & TV or through YouTube can also be found in library associated with the same Google Account and can be accessed using Google TV on eligible devices and platforms.[6]

The Shop tab on Android TV devices can also be used to explore and buy or rent video titles distributed under Google TV service.[7]

Offline downloads

A user can download a previously bought video on up to 5 devices and a rented video on one device at a time using the Google TV app. Users can’t download videos onto a Google TV device.[8]

Watchlist

Movies and shows can be added to a watchlist to find or watch content later. The watchlist is associated with the user account and updates across devices of a signed-in account when some content is added to it. Certain content from some streaming services cannot be added to watchlist. Content titles can be watched, removed or added on watchlist from a Google TV device, Google TV app, or from Google Search in a web browser.[9]

Recommendations and content preferences

In agreement with partners, Google provides recommended content to users of the Google TV service with the app or dedicated Google TV devices. Google sets default ordering and selections for streaming services based on app popularity, installed apps, user saved services, and contractual agreements with Google's partners.[10]

A user can add streaming services by selecting from list of available services using Google TV app or a Google TV device in order to get more content recommendations from those services. These options aren't available for all shows and movies on every streaming service.[10] Streaming services can be linked or unlinked to a user's Google account.[11]

If a user is signed in with their Google Account and Web & App Activity is turned on, Google makes recommendations based on several factors which include:[12]

  • What is added to the watchlist
  • What is watched on Google Play, Google TV, and Android TV
  • Trailers watched on YouTube
  • Content purchased or rented on Google Play, YouTube, Google TV, and Android TV
  • Streaming services selected
  • Entertainment-related searches on Google Search or with the Google Assistant
  • Specific titles liked or disliked on Google Play, Google TV, or Google Search
  • Region

Erasing the past activity and data resets the recommendations. To stop personalized recommendations, a user can also turn off Web & App Activity.[10][12]

A user can set or update content preferences by rating the followed suggested titles. This feature is only available on a Google TV device.[10]

Platforms and devices

Google TV can be accessed on different platforms and devices. However, not all features are available on every platform or device. User sign-in is required on each platform to access their content library.[13] This includes the following platforms and devices:[14]

Browsers

  • Google Play website, where HD playback is not supported and content plays in SD. HD playback for purchased eligible content is supported using Safari on Mac.[15][16] Earlier, offline download and watching was supported on Chromebook through the Google Chrome extension.[17]
  • YouTube website, where ads don't play when a signed in user watch purchased content
  • Google Search, where titles can be watched, removed or added on watchlist[9]

Smartphones and tablets

  • Google TV app, where the purchase feature is not available on iPhone and iPad[6]
  • YouTube app

Television sets

Media players

The service can be used with access to content through the YouTube app available on media players including the following:

Google TV devices

Select smart TVs and streaming devices have Google TV interface built-in. The Google TV interface has underlying Android TV operating system. The list of Google TV devices includes the following:[13]

Google Play Movies & TV

Google Play Movies & TV was an online video on demand service operated by Google and as part of Google Play product line, the service offered movies and television shows for purchase or rental, depending on availability.[18] [19] As of May 2022, it was moved to Google TV.[20]

History

The Google Movies service was launched in May 2011.[21] It was rebranded under Google Play in March 2012.[22]

Movies were introduced in Korea in September 2012,[23] with further rollouts of movies in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, and Spain in October 2012;[24] movies in Brazil and Russia in December 2012;[25][26] movies in India and Mexico in March 2013;[27] TV shows in the United Kingdom in July 2013;[28] and movies in Italy in November 2013.[29] A major expansion of movies was made in 13 new countries in December 2013,[30] and 38 new countries in March 2014.[31] Subsequent rollouts took place for movies in Belgium, Philippines, Switzerland, and Uganda in May 2014;[32] movies in Ireland in July 2014;[33] movies in Austria in September 2014;[34] movies in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cyprus, Hungary, Iceland, Macedonia, Malta, Slovenia, Taiwan, and Ukraine in November 2014;[35] movies in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore in July 2015;[36] movies in Turkey in March 2016;[37] and movies in Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam in November 2016.[38]

Google states that "Most movies and TV shows are available in high definition", with a resolution of 1,280×720 pixels (720p) or 1,920×1,080 pixels (1080p).[39] Google added a 4K Ultra HD video option for select titles in December 2016,[40] and began offering content in 4K HDR quality in the United States and Canada in July 2017.[41][42]

In September 2020, the Android app for Google Play Movies & TV was renamed to Google TV on Android mobile devices in the United States[43] and aggregation of content across streaming services was added in the app.[13] The rebranding coincided with the announcement of Google TV service along with identically-named user interface on the Chromecast with Google TV.[44]

In March 2021, users were informed that the app used on several TVs would no longer be available in June 2021 and users should use the YouTube app instead.[45]

In April 2021, Google began to deprecate the Google Play Movies & TV app on[46] Roku, LG, Samsung, and Vizio smart TVs, the app to shut down on July 15, redirecting users on these platforms to the YouTube app.[47]

In March 2022, it was announced that Play Movies & TV is moving to Google TV and starting in May 2022, the Google TV app will be home for buying, renting, and watching movies and shows on Android mobile device or tablet.[20] It was also announced that Movies & TV will no longer be supported on the Google Play app and Google Play will continue to be store for apps, games, and books.[20]

References

  1. ↑ "Google TV: Entertainment you love, with help from Google". Google. September 30, 2020. Archived from the original on December 17, 2020. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  2. 1 2 "Our best Chromecast yet, now with Google TV". Google. September 30, 2020.
  3. ↑ Bohn, Dieter (2020-09-30). "Google Play Movies & TV is now Google TV but it's not the same Google TV that runs on Android TV on the new Chromecast, it's an app". The Verge. Archived from the original on 2020-10-18. Retrieved 2020-09-30.
  4. ↑ Welch, Chris (2022-06-01). "Google TV app launches on iOS as another hub for your streaming services". The Verge. Archived from the original on 2022-06-01. Retrieved 2022-06-01.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Country availability for apps & digital content". Google Play Help. Google Inc. Archived from the original on May 20, 2019. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Buy or rent movies & shows with Google TV - Android - Google TV Help". support.google.com. Retrieved 2023-10-30.
  7. ↑ "Introducing Shop tab on Android TV - Android TV Community". support.google.com. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  8. ↑ "Download videos to your mobile device to watch offline - Google TV Help". support.google.com. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
  9. 1 2 "Save movies & shows to watch later - Google TV Help". support.google.com. Retrieved 2023-10-30.
  10. 1 2 3 4 "Get recommendations that are relevant to you - Google TV Help". support.google.com. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
  11. ↑ "Watch movies & shows from streaming services - Google TV Help". support.google.com. Retrieved 2023-10-30.
  12. 1 2 "Understand recommendations on Google TV - Computer - Google TV Help". support.google.com. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
  13. 1 2 3 "Google TV". Google TV. September 30, 2020. Archived from the original on December 3, 2020. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  14. ↑ "Where you can watch your movies & shows - Google TV Help". support.google.com. Retrieved 2023-11-07.
  15. ↑ "Watch HD, 4K UHD and HDR videos". Google Play Help. Google Inc. Archived from the original on November 19, 2022. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
  16. ↑ "Where you can watch your movies & shows - Google Play Help".
  17. ↑ "Download movies & TV to watch offline". Google Play Help. Google Inc. Archived from the original on October 14, 2017. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
  18. ↑ "Rent or buy movies & TV shows". Google Play Help. Google. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
  19. ↑ "Movies & TV moving".
  20. 1 2 3 "Play Movies & TV is moving to Google TV".
  21. ↑ Parr, Ben (10 May 2011). "Google Launches Movies for Android". Mashable. Archived from the original on 17 October 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
  22. ↑ Ruddock, David (6 Mar 2012). "The Android Market Is Now Google Play - Integrating Apps, Games, Books, Music, And Movies". Android Police. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
  23. ↑ Spradlin, Liam (September 28, 2012). "Google Play Movies Come To Korea – Enjoy Hundreds Of Titles From Korea And Hollywood". Android Police. Archived from the original on December 4, 2016. Retrieved February 20, 2017.
  24. ↑ Ravenscraft, Eric (October 29, 2012). "Now You Can Purchase Movies From Google Play In Canada, The UK, France, Spain, And Australia". Android Police. Archived from the original on October 15, 2016. Retrieved February 20, 2017.
  25. ↑ Spradlin, Liam (December 5, 2012). "Google Now Offering Up Play Books And Movies In Brazil". Android Police. Archived from the original on February 21, 2017. Retrieved February 20, 2017.
  26. ↑ Ravenscraft, Eric (December 11, 2012). "Have You Heard? Play Books And Movies Are Out In St. Petersburg (And The Rest Of Russia)". Android Police. Archived from the original on February 21, 2017. Retrieved February 20, 2017.
  27. ↑ Ravenscraft, Eric (March 27, 2013). "Play Movies App Updated With In-Depth 'Info Cards', Service Launches In India & Mexico". Android Police. Archived from the original on February 21, 2017. Retrieved February 20, 2017.
  28. ↑ Rice, Jeremiah (July 31, 2013). "Google Play TV Shows Now Available In The United Kingdom: UK Residents Can Watch As Much Honey Boo Boo As They Want". Android Police. Archived from the original on January 18, 2017. Retrieved January 18, 2017.
  29. ↑ Rice, Jeremiah (November 12, 2013). "Google Play Movies Are Now Available In Italy On Android Devices And The Web". Android Police. Archived from the original on July 10, 2018. Retrieved January 18, 2017.
  30. ↑ Crider, Michael (December 27, 2013). "Google Play Movies Expands To 13 New Territories, Including Hong Kong And New Zealand". Android Police. Archived from the original on January 18, 2017. Retrieved January 18, 2017.
  31. ↑ Whitwam, Ryan (March 27, 2014). "Google Play Movies & TV Expands Into Chile, Sweden, Denmark, And 35 More Countries [Update]". Android Police. Archived from the original on May 7, 2018. Retrieved January 18, 2017.
  32. ↑ Whitwam, Ryan (May 22, 2014). "Google Play Movies Goes Live In Belgium, Philippines, Switzerland, And Uganda". Android Police. Archived from the original on January 18, 2017. Retrieved January 18, 2017.
  33. ↑ King, Bertel Jr. (July 9, 2014). "Play Movies Now Showing In Ireland". Android Police. Archived from the original on February 21, 2017. Retrieved February 20, 2017.
  34. ↑ King, Bertel Jr. (September 17, 2014). "Play Movies Is Now Ready To Stream To Devices In Austria". Android Police. Archived from the original on February 21, 2017. Retrieved February 20, 2017.
  35. ↑ King, Bertel Jr. (November 4, 2014). "Play Movies Is Now Ready To Stream Motion Pictures In Hungary, Macedonia, Ukraine, And 6 More Countries". Android Police. Archived from the original on February 21, 2017. Retrieved February 20, 2017.
  36. ↑ King, Bertel Jr. (July 30, 2015). "[Update: And Singapore] Google Play Movies Now Shows Flicks In Indonesia And Malaysia". Android Police. Archived from the original on May 8, 2016. Retrieved February 20, 2017.
  37. ↑ King, Bertel Jr. (March 30, 2016). "Google Play Movies Launches In Turkey". Android Police. Archived from the original on February 21, 2017. Retrieved February 20, 2017.
  38. ↑ El Khoury, Rita (November 17, 2016). "Google Play Movies rolls out in 10 new Middle Eastern countries and Vietnam". Android Police. Archived from the original on January 12, 2019. Retrieved January 18, 2017.
  39. ↑ "HD movie & TV show availability". Google Play Help. Google Inc. Archived from the original on January 18, 2017. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
  40. ↑ Whitwam, Ryan (December 6, 2016). "Google makes 4K video official in Google Play, but only for the US and Canada right now". Android Police. Archived from the original on December 29, 2018. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
  41. ↑ Welch, Chris (July 12, 2017). "Google Play Movies adds 4K HDR streaming in US and Canada". The Verge. Vox Media. Archived from the original on July 12, 2017. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
  42. ↑ Perez, Sarah (July 12, 2017). "Google Play Movies & TV rolls out support for HDR video on Chromecast Ultra". TechCrunch. AOL. Archived from the original on October 18, 2017. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
  43. ↑ "Google TV: Entertainment you love, with help from Google". Google. September 30, 2020. Archived from the original on December 17, 2020. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  44. ↑ "Movies & TV Help topics". Movies & TV - Google Support.
  45. ↑ "Changes to Google Play Movies & TV on certain smart TVS - Google Play Community". Archived from the original on 2021-04-28. Retrieved 2021-04-28.
  46. ↑ "Watch Google Play videos on your TV". Google Play Help. Google Inc. Archived from the original on February 7, 2019. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
  47. ↑ Clark, Mitchell (2021-04-12). "Google is removing its Play Movies and TV app from every Roku and most smart TVs". The Verge. Archived from the original on 2022-11-19. Retrieved 2021-04-13.
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