LG in talks to debut Google TV in January

Google Inc. and LG Electronics Inc. may unveil a television using the search giant's software at the January Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, according to two people with knowledge of the project. The product would be LG's first model with Google TV, said the people, who declined to be identified because the discussions aren't public. Support from the world's second-largest TV manufacturer may boost Google's attempt to bring its dominance in internet search to living rooms with the Google TV software. Last month, the Mountain View, California-based company introduced a redesigned television service after sales of its initial version didn't meet some expectations. Google, pushing into areas that boost competition with rivals Apple and Microsoft, unveiled the TV service last year with partners Sony, Logitech International SA and Dish Network Corp. Google said last month the partners would receive the updated software. LG and bigger rival Samsung Electronics Co. are embracing the internet and 3-D images to revive TV demand amid a plunge in set prices. Sony, maker of the Bravia models, has forecast an eighth straight year of losses at its TV business. The revamped version of the TV service Google unveiled last month has a simpler interface. The upgrade was designed to show the YouTube video-sharing service better and opens up the platform for Android developers to build applications for TV. Android is Google's software platform for mobile devices. After the TV service's debut, Google failed to secure programming from the four major US broadcast networks, led by CBS and News Corp.'s Fox. Switzerland-based Logitech cut the price of its Revue set-top box for Google TV in April, citing "a slow start". South Korea's Electronics Times newspaper, reported this month that LG was in discussions with Google to use the TV service.