As more and more devices are integrating and folding into others, there’s one stubborn resister- the cable-top box. No matter what the new advances in technology these days, cable-top boxes are still around. They sit there, blinking dumbly at you whether the show is loading or not. Some customers complain they’re an eye-sore, others hide them behind furniture. Though this does fix an aesthetic issue, it ends up killing your Wi-Fi. Despite smart-home devices becoming more plentiful, and easier to use, the cable top box hasn’t changed much.

Remember the First Cell Phone?

The cell phone began as a luxury item, much like cable. And much like the cell phone, cable has evolved. It seemed to be stuck though. Cell phones, on the other hand, have changed. They began to get smaller and smaller, lighter and lighter. But they still had horrible sound quality and would drop calls. That’s when providers learned to improve cell signal quality. Then came texting, games, mapping apps, music, and other bells and whistles. More and more stuff kept getting shoved into this little device until they ceased to be cell phones and instead became smartphones. Touchscreens were at first a hip new thing, now they’re a requirement for inclusion in the smartphone category. If we’re to follow this analogy, cable top boxes are sitting at where cell phones were at the turn of the century. They have a lot of functionality in them, but there’s obvious room for improvement. Not to mention they’re still clunky and come only in one color. Instead of moving forward, cable-top boxes have halted in their evolution.

Darwin’s Not Happy

Adapt

Jason Brush, the global EVP of experiences & innovation for Possible, argues the cable-top box is not living up to its potential. With the push for TVs to be less of a TV and more of a smart hub for smart homes, cable top boxes could provide this already. Since cable-top boxes are usually the entry point for internet into a home, it makes sense to make these the hub for the smart home. Instead of only allowing cable access, with a DVR, cable top boxes could act as the headquarters for all the smart home devices. Brush suggests making them voice-activated, or to expand the user interface to make it more intuitive. The cable top box would become so much more than just “that thing for the cable.” By changing the gizmo into another smart home device, the cable top box would have more functionality. It’d be part of the home’s network instead of a network on its own.

Or Die

The Future of Cable

Although streaming services are pulling in more customers every day, cable television isn’t done yet. There will always be holdouts who decide they’re going to stick with cable, no matter what. Then there are the cable companies themselves who have spent years and years building their empires. No one walks away from something like that just because they think a new competitor is too strong. Cable companies will find a way to adapt to the changing environment. The real question is; will they come up with a solution sooner rather than later? The good news is cable companies are still around and with streaming services coming after them, they’re eager to cut deals to ensure they increase their subscriber base and keep current customers. Search for the best Spectrum bundles. These bundles put cable, internet, and sometimes phone, into one package. You’ll save money by putting your services into one spot, as well as streamline the connections into your house. The cable top box will remain for the foreseeable future. This isn’t a bad thing at all, except if you don’t like the design and color of it.

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