Google to enter UK's TV market

Google is to enter the UK television market with the launch next month of its interactive TV service for British consumers.

A tie-up with electronics giant Sony will see Google's interactive TV service made available outside the US for the first time with viewers able to surf the internet, watch videos and play games on TV.

The set top box, priced at £200, allows viewers to use the internet through their television as well as access a range of specially designed applications.

Sony Europe said the NSZ-GS7 internet player with Google TV would be available to buy from July.

Gildas Pelliet, Sony's European head of marketing, said: "Entertainment content is available through so many channels and sites, and Google TV helps consumers easily find what they want to watch, listen or play with the freedom of the internet and using the familiar Chrome browser."

A spokesman for Sony UK said the service would give access to thousands of Android apps including 150 apps optimised for television.

He said users of the service would have access to BBC iPlayer and YouTube, and hundreds of thousands of films.