How cool is this? As if indexing still images on the web wasn't enough, Google has now created a fully searchable database of video feeds from major networks.

Google Video, launched today in a beta version, uses closed captioning from programs to identify keywords and provides screenshots captured at 30-second intervals and complete transcripts from the following channels: ABC, PBS, NBC, Fox News, C-SPAN, and C-SPAN2, as well as local San Francisco affiliates. Search results include the original date and time that every program aired, as well as a schedule of future airings.

There is no streaming video yet, though it appears that feeds will be added eventually, and, unfortunately, scripted programs are not searchable due to copyright issues. So, while there's no way to catch up with what you missed on "24" last night, you can review about two months worth of David Letterman's monologues.

The service will clearly be tweaked and improved as more channels are added, but, even in its current form, Google Search makes the ability to track down quotations and information from the countless hours of news programming each week a whole lot easier.