Blurring the lines: Google, Intel, and Sony rumored to be working on internet TV project

Search giant Google, along with microchip maker Intel and consumer electronics maker Sony, is looking to combine television and internet capabilities, according to a report in the New York Times.

The Times says that "the project, which has been under way for several months, was described by people with knowledge of it. They requested anonymity because the partners were not allowed to speak publicly at this point, and details remained under negotiation." The newspaper also says that Logitech has been contracted to provide hardware support.

According to Wired.com, efforts to bring computers and TVs together have met with very limited success in the past, despite several high-profile attempts like Apple TV. Nevertheless, approaching the problem from the other end - in the manner of Hulu and Netflix - has proved much more promising in recent years.

Broadband systems, however, could be further taxed if significant portions of the population switch to online TV models. This would necessitate large amounts of bandwidth to stream high-quality video and audio content, experts say.