JAN. 6 7:01 P.M. ET Google Inc. is upping the ante in the online video gold rush, allowing content owners to set their own prices in a bid to create a more flexible alternative to Apple Computer Inc.'s pioneering iTunes store.

Google's video expansion, announced Friday at the Consumer Electronics Show, already has lined up commitments to sell thousands of downloads, including recent television broadcasts of popular CBS shows and professional basketball games, as well as vintage episodes from series that went off the air decades ago.

"It's the biggest marketplace of content that was previously offline and is now brought online," said Jennifer Feikin, director of Google Video.

 

More info : Business Week |