Published On: May 9, 2011

Set-Top Boxes to Disappear

Published On: May 9, 2011
Last Updated on: October 31, 2020
We May Earn From Purchases Via Links

Set-Top Boxes to Disappear

As the world of home theater evolves, so must the technology in it. According to a panel of industry professionals, the world of set-top boxes is changing. It may very well be ending altogether.

Set-Top Boxes to Disappear

  • The staff at HomeTheaterReview.com is comprised of experts who are dedicated to helping you make better informed buying decisions.

roku_xds_set-top_box.gif

Home Media Magazine has an article reporting that set-top boxes will be gone within five years, which comes according to a panelist at the 2011 Digital Hollywood conference.

"What I think is the set-top as we know it, in my opinion, is going to disappear," said Jan Steenkamp, the VP of Americas and a founding member of Irdeto, a software security and media company. "The set-top box will become software. The biggest cost to do business is set-top boxes."

Additional Resources
• Read more satellite receiver and HD DVR news from HomeTheaterReview.com.
• Explore our reviews in our Satellite Receiver and HD DVR Review section.
• Find similar stories in our Media Server News section.

According to research performed by Parks Associates, almost 75 million households in the United States will have a connected TV by 2015. These connected televisions will supply content, games, and all the other services offered by set-tops, making them obsolete.

Kurt Hoppe, the director of smart innovations and alliances at LG Electronics, mentioned that "economically, cloud-based [content], long-term, is an attractive solution." He went on to suggest a stepping stone to counter Steenkamp, predicting that a hybrid set-top with cloud based content would be where the future in home theater is.

It will be interesting to see what direction the industry takes, but there is no doubt that it will be changing.

Subscribe To Home Theater Review

Get the latest weekly home theater news, sweepstakes and special offers delivered right to your inbox
Email Subscribe
© JRW Publishing Company, 2023
As an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases.

magnifiercross
linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram
Share to...