Google’s TV Ads heads to Verizon FiOS TV

Google has scored a coup for its new TV Ads platform. Google announced today that it has partnered with Verizon FiOS TV, the company’s fiber television offering, to reach 3.3 million homes on over 50 TV networks.

The partnership makes sense since Google and Verizon have become fast buddies. Verizon has been the premiere wireless network for Android phones since it spent $100 million marketing the original Motorola Droid, and the two companies have also worked together on their policy for an open internet.

Satellite providers Dish Network and Direct TV have also signed up for Google’s TV ads platform, which Google hopes will reach 35 million US homes by early 2011. Similar to Google’s web ads, the TV ads platform will let anyone easily buy and measure ads on national TV. The company also provides targeting tools to make sure your ads reach the right audience.

One glaring problem for Google TV ads is the lack of partnerships with cable providers. Major cable companies like Comcast, Cablevision, and Time Warner are reportedly working on a targeting advertising initiative of their own, the New York Times reported in March 2008. The cable initiative is apparently code-named “Project Canoe”, which emphasizes the need for the companies to work together to defeat Google.

We’ve yet to see any results from the cable companies’ advertising attempt, but I can’t imagine that all of those companies will be able to avoid Google’s siren song if its ads platform ends up being wildly successful.