AOL jumps onto Android TV

Google unveiled Android TV at its developer conference earlier this year, saying it would be available to consumers in the fall.James Martin/CNET

AOL said Wednesday that its library of premium content would be available on Google's Android TV, the same day the search giant unveiled the first streaming-media player that would run the new platform.

AOL's apps include original shows like the short-form series "Park Bench with Steve Buscemi," movies such as those from Miramax and clips from brands AOL owns like HuffPost Live and TechCrunch.

Google previously had given consumers barely more than a glimpse of Android TV after unveiling it in June, but Wednesday the company introduced the Nexus Player, a streaming-media player by Asus and the first device running Android TV, alongside a new tablet and smartphone.

Google has a checkered past in television. The company's first stab was in 2010 with Google TV, a separate software package that promised -- but failed to deliver -- easy access to television listings and full access to the Web on a TV. The company tried again last year with Chromecast, a $35 dongle that plugs in to a television and "casts" the content on a computer, tablet or smartphone to your TV set. Chromecast has been a best seller, but how much the cheap domino-size device is actually used is unclear.

Despite Android TV's barely-there track record with consumers, AOL President of Video and Studios Dermot McCormack said being on preferred devices is crucial for companies like AOL as viewing habits evolve. "With the addition of Android TV we are able to expand the reach of our premium video library."

Rob Delacruz, vice president and general manager of consumer experiences at AOL Video, said that Android TV is unique for personalized ways to discover content, through Google's introduction of "recommendation cards." The feature allows companies like AOL to suggest and feature content each time a viewer uses their Android TV device, without having to open the AOL On or HuffPost Live apps.

"Content search and discovery has long been an issue for video content, and recommendation cards are a great step in the right direction," he said.

With the Android TV integration, AOL's library is available across 16 connected TV and "over-the-top" devices, including Apple TV, Roku and Samsung.