Google gets Episodic with web video

Eye on IPTV?

Google has purchased Episodic, a San Francisco-based startup offering a platform for delivering live and on-demand video via the web.

Episodic trumpeted the deal on Friday with a post to its blog. The startup says that in joining Google, it will continue its work to deliver video to desktops and notebooks, mobiles, and IPTV devices and that there will be no interruption in service for existing Episodic customers. New account sign-ups, however, have been suspended.

"From our earliest discussions with Google, it was clear that the teams shared this belief and together we obviously see huge potential in online video," the post reads. "Our product visions were also complementary and together we will continue to produce innovative video technology for our customers and their viewers."

The company's platform lets businesses - including content creators, marketers, and enterprises - host, stream, measure, and, yes, monetize their videos. Monetization is done via advertising as well as online credit-card sales.

The platform could dovetail with YouTube, but it's also worth noting that Episodic mentions IPTV devices. Multiple reports have indicated that Google is developing a television set-top box that - among other things - delivers web video.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed. ®