Google to Give Away $140,000 Worth of Google TV-Based Sets

Does this mean nobody actually wants to buy a Google TV?

Trying to gin up some holiday buzz, Google will give away 100 46-inch Google TV-based Sony Internet TVs with an approximate retail value of around $140,000 with its “I Want My Google TV!” contest.

To enter the promo, you must upload a video “telling us and all your friends on YouTube why you’re pumped up about Google TV,” according to Google.

Or, at any rate, why you like the idea of Google TV device, given that you probably don’t have one yet.

One thing that is decidedly not going to get people “pumped” is that major broadcasters are currently blocking Google TV software from accessing streaming video in the absence of explicit business deals (see Nets Evaluate Putting Content On Google TV).

Videos must be uploaded by Dec. 22. Google says winners will be announced by Jan. 20, 2011.

Here’s one of the first entries: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEywiotVIXg. “It’s awesome, guys! I can watch my YouTube videos, while watching your YouTube videos, all while watching TV at the same time!” enthuses HowieUncut. This dude’s in it to win it.

Here are links to Multichannel News coverage of Google TV:

* Comcast: Google TV Isn’t Compatible With Our ‘TV Everywhere’ Service

* Best Buy Offers Free Google TV Setup Through Holidays

* Sony’s Google TV Sets: $200-$400 Extra

* Dish To Flog Logitech’s Google TV Box

* Can Google Be a TV Star?

* Illogitech

* Is TV One of Google’s Science Projects?

* Google TV: World-Beater or Global Disappointment?

* Google TV: Good for Cable?

* Google Sinks Teeth Into TV With Dish And Others