
A set-top box (STB) is a device that is used to convert the video content transmitted from a pay TV operator to a format compatible with an end-user or subscriber TV. STBs may receive the video content from satellite, terrestrial, cable or Internet-based transmission. STBs offer a greater number of channels compared to conventional broadcasting services and further improve the quality of the video content considerably. The introduction of high definition (HD) channels, digitization of TV broadcasting and demand for higher picture quality are resulting in the growth of STB market. With advancements in technology, STB is increasingly being used to stream digital TV content through the Internet, further enabling a user to surf the Web, stream videos, access various applications, play games, and use allied features, such as OTT services. With advanced coding and compression techniques it has become much easier to decode high-quality videos using comparatively less bandwidth. The introduction of high-efficiency video coding (HEVC) decoders in STBs is expected to boost the demand for the latter in coming years. With the inclusion of further innovations, STBs are being powered by operating systems such as Android and iOS to enhance the user interface and make the TV experience more lively and exciting than before.