I just noticed that Google is integrating video thumbnails into its regular search results. It is doing this for video clips from select sites (pictured above).

Video sites that seem to get a thumbnail are:

• Yahoo Video
• MetaCafe
• YouTube
• Google Video
• MySpace
• Vimeo

We often hear about how the traditional cable and satellite companies are going to suffer as internet TV begins to take over. We hear it but so far there has been little evidence of it.

In fact Comcast has been flexing its muscles to place itself in a position to theoretically thwart the open web TV revolution.

A New York court ruled yesterday that digital music downloads in the form of videos or music files are not subject to performance royalties.

This ruling was part of a copyright law dispute involving The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) against AOL, Yahoo and RealNetworks.

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The three major search engines — Yahoo, MSN, and Google — recognize video as an evolving and increasingly popular phenomenon on the web.

But what have these three beasty corporations done to secure their stake in the online video market?

Read on…

Yahoo and Video

• In May 2005 Yahoo launched its video search engine which also integrated video sharing allowing users to upload their own videos.
• Although often forgotten about, Yahoo is actually a leading video website that rivals YouTube and MySpace.
• It September 2006 Yahoo acquired the video sharing website JumpCut.
• It has a large number music videos available on LaunchCast.
• It has a large number of videos in its news section.
• Yahoo offers regular TV listings which are linked to relevant online videos.

Microsoft and Video

• MSN previously arranged a licensing deal with Blinkx to help provide results in its video search.
• Microsoft launched the video sharing website SoapBox in September 2006.
• Microsoft has developed IPTV middleware that is being used by a number of TV providers, and will be available on the Xbox 360 by the end of 2007.
• It has the Xbox Live Marketplace for video downloads on the Xbox 360
• Microsoft has Media Center PCs that create a rich TV/video experience on the PC.
• Microsoft has launched media extenders to connect media on PCs to the TV screen and other PCs.
• Microsoft has the proprietary VC-9 technology which is a high compression video format that can be used over the internet.
• Microsoft has the MSN video portal which features a mixture of video content.

Google and Video

• Google acquired the video sharing website YouTube in December 2006.

• Google launched Google video in January 2005 as a service to search for TV programmes online. The functionality of the site changed when Google video added video sharing functionality in April 2005.

• Google video also allows publishers to sell video online.

• Google has introduced video adverts which have appeared on Google videos.

Smile the MSN way: Free MSN emoticons makes MSN more fun!

Yahoo! has had its eyes on entering the living room for some time and is in a much better position to do so when it compares itself to Google. Its got a good partnersip with TiVo, PC DVR software, successful internet video services and a deal with Akimbo.

Yahoo! and TiVo

Yahoo! already has a strong partnership with TiVo with a number of Yahoo! services such as Yahoo! Weather and Yahoo! photos available through the TiVo box.

Also Yahoo! partnered with TiVo to allow its Yahoo! TV Guide to work with TiVo allowing remote scheduling through the Yahoo TV guide website. Because of this already inherent relationship with TiVo it has been said before that TiVo would make a good takeover candidate for Yahoo! to really bring it into the living room.