Apple’s business model gives it an advantage over Google because it can earn a return on its content investments by selling more of its highly profitable iPhones, iPads and Macs. Google wants to encourage people to buy Android devices, but it makes little money directly from their sale since it offers Android software free to device makers. In other words, it’s not clear how Google would profit directly from offering more TV-like content.
via Apple TV Offering May Force Rivals to Play Catch Up – Digits – WSJ.