Google's march to world domination came another step closer today with a beta search engine allowing users to search through recent TV programmes. So now you won't even have to remember what you watched on telly last night - you can check on Google.

The site, designed in line with Google's minimist style, searches through the closed captions (subtitles) for all the programmes in Google's archive. You can also search by programme name or by channel. You cannot, yet, play the videos directly.

At the moment this archive is limited to the dubious pleasures of US networks while the technology is being tested. Google has archived various channels such as ABC, C-SPAN, NBC, PBS and Fox News since December and will add more channels as testing continues.

Google American TV here. ®

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