Economics
Here’s Why You’re Paying $200 to Rent a Clunky Set-Top Box
- U.S. FCC wants to let homeowners buy their own boxes
- Cable and allies say competing boxes would slow innovation
Under Tom Wheeler’s plan, pay-TV companies would have to provide online applications that grant access to their programming to independent device makers, such as Google, Amazon, TiVo and Roku.
Photographer: Albert Mollon/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
Imagine watching TV without paying the cable company for the blinking set-top box, using a gadget of your choice that makes it easy to switch between cable channels, streaming programs and online shows.
The idea, simple in concept, is proving difficult in execution.