Google launches Google TV

Google (GOOG) TV, the much-anticipated new entertainment offering from the Web search titan, is getting closer to becoming a reality. On Monday, Google announced an list of content partners including HBO, CNBC, and the National Basketball Association. Google has announced some of its initial content partners for Google TV, including Cartoon Network and Adult Swim on-demand, a CNBC Real-Time application, HBO Go for on-demand original programming and NBA Game Time, an app for bringing realtime game scores to your HDTV. In short, Google is trying to add a bunch of Internet features to your TV set: Primarily search, plus video and apps.

Since our announcement, we’ve been overwhelmed by interest from partners on how they can use the Google TV platform to personalize, monetize and distribute their content in new ways. Most of these partner sites already work with Google TV, but many are choosing to further enhance their premium web content for viewing on the television. Today, we’re excited to announce several of these content partners.

* Turner Broadcasting has been hard at work optimizing some of their most popular websites for viewing on Google TV, including TBS, TNT, CNN, Cartoon Network and Adult Swim, available anytime through Google TV.
* NBC Universal has collaborated with Google TV to bring CNBC Real-Time, an application that allows you to track your favorite stocks and access news feeds while enjoying the best financial news from CNBC directly on the TV screen.
* HBO will bring access to hundreds of hours of programming to Google TV with HBO GO. Authenticated subscribers will soon be able to access all of their favorite HBO content on-demand in an enhanced website for Google TV.
* NBA has built NBA Game Time, an application that lets you follow game scores in real-time and catch up on the latest highlights from your favorite team in HD.