Discovery comes to Google Earth

Google Earth, the free software that allows users to customize three-dimensional satellite maps, will now offer Discovery Communications content regarding history, science and culture on popular and historic destinations. When Google Earth users now click on an historic or culturally significant map point, a Discovery window will pop up, offering links to both videos and encyclopedic content.

The rollout will begin with 10 U.S. landmarks. In the coming months, 50 more destinations around the world will be added. By the end of 2006, Discovery Communications and Google plan to include video and encyclopedic content from Discovery Atlas, a high-definition series focusing on more than 30 countries. The new service will be offered on the free version of Google Earth as well as on the premium-pay GPS versions of the Google service.