Source: 'Chromecast Store' May Bundle Content From Streaming Partners Into One Package

It’s no secret that Google has been hiring media-types like crazy lately. It seems to be preparing to rapidly expand both its video and music businesses, as its been bringing on both technical and editorial talent. Its new piece of hardware, Chromecast, is a major key to this scheme, but what’s the glue holding it all together?

According to things garnered during a large music event in Seattle this last weekend, it could be a centralized subscription-based media service that Google is developing in the Bay Area. A former musical editor from MSN told me that they were recently approached by Google about a position (which they declined). They shared with me some of what they were told and, while they didn’t learn many specifics, they are able to shed a little light on what The Goog may be planning for Chromecast in the future.

The basics go something like this: Google wants to make a combination iTunes-like music-and-video service with some Pandora built in for good measure. The whole thing would be subscription-based, with free music streaming for subscription holders. Songs could be purchased and accessed when a subscription has expired or is unavailable and would live a DRM-free existence to work with any MP3-playing devices.

What really caught my attention though was what they had to say about video. It would continue selling and renting videos similar to the way it does now (which it does via the Play Store). But Google won’t be following Netflix ’s lead by creating its own TV content, at least not right away; it’s planning on using existing services like Netflix and Hulu to provide video content to its subscribers. What’s unique about what Google is doing with the Chromecast is how it plans on handling subscriptions to those video services.

The bundled subscription would only work on Chrome-based devices; a subscriber to “Chromecast TV” (or whatever) would be allowed unlimited Netflix via Chromecast, for example, but they wouldn’t also be able to access their Netflix queue on another device – like an Xbox -- without a stand-alone subscription.

This falls in line with what we’ve been expecting from Google in regards to its vision of TV-over-the-Internet. The idea of easy-to-access bundled content – along with the Chromecast’s $35 price tag – suddenly gives current TV subscribers a way to “cut the cord” that they could be more comfortable with. If Google can get the big networks on board – ESPN , HBO, etc. – then it would have a way to really upset the much-maligned pay TV market.

Again, this is relayed from someone who was offered a job and declined. We've checked with Google on what its plans may be, but as of press time it has not gotten back to us. We'll update this post if they have anything to say to us about this idea, because it could be a game changer.