The latest platform innovation from Google enables advertisers to place bids for on-air commercial time that Google has already purchased. Now that time will come at a higher premium, with the entry of NBCU into the mix.

Google launched TV Ads last year, a means for businesses to selectively purchase television ad inventory using similar tools to what Google AdWords provides its clients for text ads, complete with minimum bids and budget maximums. After airing, customers can measure the efficacy of their campaigns. Google even provides the an Ad Creation Marketplace to assist in the creation of the commercial.

Beginning early in 2009, NBC Universal cable networks CNBC, Sci-Fi Network, MSNBC, Oxygen, Sleuth, and Chiller will offer advertising slots to Google TV Ads customers. Previously, Google TV Ads could be seen nationally on Dish Network, and locally on Wave Broadband in select California markets.

Google has created a YouTube Channel featuring many current customers who built their entire television advertisement campaign around the tools that Google provides. While the majority of these customers are ".com" services, there have been more noteworthy customers to use Google's system so far, such as Lenovo.