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Google�s First Video Experiment

Google stepped into what has primarily been considered Yahoo�s territory when it said it was streaming the series premiere of UPN�s new show Everybody Hates Chris on its video site.

Yahoo has evolved into a media company with a strong focus on content. It has a media group headed by Lloyd Braun, the former chairperson of ABC Entertainment Television Group. Google, on the other hand, has never shown much interest in original content. It does have a video search function and invites users to upload videos to its site. But it has never orchestrated a relationship of this sort.

�When you look at Google and online content, it would be early to say they have an explicit, flat-out strategy to be in the game of online content,� said Rick Summer, an analyst with Morningstar. �I think you�re looking at potentially a low-cost experiment. Google�s not looking to become a channel on your PC.�

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