The Observer reports that Google is in secret talks with Simon Fuller, the British entertainment guru behind the Spice Girls and American Idol, about a joint venture that “could change the way TV is watched over the Internet.”

According to the report, Google execs have been in discussions with Fuller for about a year. Although details of the deal are a closely guarded secret, The Observer’s sources say it could revolutionize the way entertainment and music are distributed.

‘It’s a big idea on a global scale,’ according to a source close to Fuller. ‘It will change television in much the way iTunes changed the way music is disseminated.’

Although he is best known for his association with the Spice Girls and managing David Beckham, Fuller created the Pop Idol format and its hugely successful US spin-off American Idol. Versions of the show are now available in more than 30 countries.