Google brings Play service to TVs

Google has released its Play software and media service to the Google TV platform.

The company said that the update would allow Google TV users to access the Play app store as well as download and view content from the Play television and movie services.

"You'll be able to buy or rent content directly through the Google Play Store on Google TV, and purchases you’ve made on other devices will also be automatically available on Google TV," Google TV product manager Ambarish Kenghe said in a blog post introducing the update.

"Google Play titles will also be discoverable through our TV & Movies app, which brings recommendations for shows and movies available on live TV and apps like Netflix, Amazon, and now Google Play."

The addition of television support comes as part of a larger update by Google for its Play application store. The company said that it would also be adding a number of new features for developers which will add subscription billing options and the addition of auto-update support.

The Play service, formerly known as the Android Market, serves as Google's primary media and application marketplace and competes with rival offerings from Apple and Amazon. While Google has been seeking to expand the Play brand, the company has also struggled to keep malware off of the service.

Earlier this summer, Google kicked off an effort to tighten its control over the Play service and prevent malware writers from infiltrating the platform.