A Piece of the Action The future of four major industries will be affected by the next generation of cable set-top boxes. A look at the stakes: CABLE: The industry is confident that, as the currently favored distribution network for the digital age, it will be calling most of the shots. Cable execs are determined to keep control as tech companies invest huge sums in developing software and services for the new cable infrastructure. COMPUTERS: Microsoft wanted to design a proprietary system for the new set-top boxes so it could be the primary gatekeeper to American homes. But other tech companies jumped in the fray. BROADCAST NETWORK: They are investing huge amounts to upgrade so they can deliver high-definition digital-TV signals, which will require more cable channels. But they are wrangling over how much cable capacity will be set aside to do so. CONSUMER ELECTRONICS: The new set-top and the morphing of TV into a more PC-like device may spell trouble for traditional players as PC makers get into the game. DATA: SANFORD C. BERNSTEIN & CO., BUSINESS WEEK Return to main story

Updated Nov. 13, 1997 by bwwebmaster
Copyright 1997, by The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. All rights reserved.
Terms of Use