Google and Hollywood

So Google has put a film industry veteran on its Board. Gary Price at Search Engine Watch notes that Ann Mather has connections to both Pixar and Disney, and asks, "You've got to wonder if Buzz Lightyear will be appearing on Google Video sometime soon. (-:

I think so, but perhaps not in the way Price may be thinking. Google is a content distributor in reverse. It does not deliver content to people, but sends the people to the content. It's more efficient, and makes the old distribution models obsolete. Google Video would likely be structured more like Google Books.

But because of the flak Google got from the publishing industry over Books, management has decided that before it gets too far in pointing people to video, it had better have a few conversations with the industry first. Mather can advise Google on this issue and make the connections.

At least Google can sometimes learn from its mistakes.

It's also significant that Mather is on the audit committee. She has a lot of financial experience, and understands Hollywood's financial structure. Perhaps Hollywood will trust her to keep an eye on the revenues Google may take from the established industry and work out compromises between Google and Hollywood.