Set top box (STB) is a kind of information equipment used to enhance or expand the functions of TV. Because people usually put it on the TV, it is also called set top box or top box.
     According to statistics, the sales volume of China's set-top box market ushered in a blowout in the first three quarters of 2008. According to the survey data, 16.667 million sets of set-top boxes were sold in the first three quarters of 2008, an increase of 83.4% year-on-year.
     The reasons for the sharp increase in STB sales are as follows: first, after several years of development, cable digital TV has accumulated a lot of successful experience. SARFT has a number of regions and cities for reference in promotion. Therefore, the overall translation process of digital TV everywhere is faster and faster; Second, China's set-top box manufacturing industry has a large scale. There are more than 200 enterprises engaged in set-top box production in China. Such a large number of enterprises make the competition in China's set-top box market very fierce, the price drops rapidly, and the set-top box procurement pressure of cable digital TV operators is also relatively reduced; Third, more enterprises in the digital TV industry have participated in the conversion of digital TV and carried out a lot of business model innovation of joint operation, which has accelerated the process of analog to digital and stimulated the increase of set-top box sales. Fourth, the adoption of "HD broadcasting" in the Beijing Olympic Games has promoted the development of set-top boxes to a certain extent.
     For the discussion on the development of STB, the overwhelming majority of supporters believe that the future of STB is bright and beautiful. However, the author believes that the rapid development of set-top boxes can only show that the "Digital Age" is coming. Here, the author boldly predicts that one day, when the "Digital Age" is really coming and popularized, it is also the day when set-top boxes retreat.
     Similarly, today, when digital TV is gradually recognized by more people, but the technology is underdeveloped, the existence of set-top box is inevitable, and will continue to develop and be accepted by people in the short-term future. More and more people may install set-top box on TV at home. However, don't forget that TV manufacturers are also adapting to the trend and constantly adjusting and developing TV production technology. Who can guarantee that in the next few years, manufacturers can not absorb a receiving device that can replace the set-top box in TV? Some people may say that the set-top box is designed for the "one-to-one" configuration of the TV. Then, as long as the "digital TV" is really developed to the point that everyone receives it, I believe it is not impossible to design the "one-to-one" receiving signal of the TV in production. This is a new value-added production for manufacturers; For people watching digital programs, they can still watch digital TV without putting a set-top box on the TV. Why not?
     In short, the author believes that STB has played the role of "pioneer" in the development of "digital TV". Its emergence has brought digital TV to people's life and brought a burst of fresh air on the basis of the original "analog TV". However, for its future development, the author predicts that there will be a phenomenon of "short-term prosperity", The result will eventually be replaced by the technological innovation of television.