Looks Like You Won't Need That Bulky Cable Box Anymore

A group called the "Future of Television Coalition" has pushed an initiative for cable companies to "ditch the box" and allow customers to finally get rid of those pesky cable boxes and all their fees.

The "ditch" plan calls for shipping of apps for smart TVs, which would provide users with all the services of a cable box, without taking up space.

The plan is backed by the Motion Picture Association in addition to the Future of Television Coalition members, including Comcast Corporation CMCSA, AT&T Inc. T and DISH Network Corp DISH, among others, according to Yahoo! Inc. YHOO's Yahoo! Finance.

Related Link: Is There No End To Hollywood's Obsession With Sequels?

Yahoo! Finance summarized a presentation by the Federal Communications Commission explaining the ditch plan, "Your cable or satellite service would provide apps built on the HTM5 standard that you would install and run on ‘smart TVs, tablets, streaming players, and other connected devices’ at no extra charge. If you watch cable TV, the video would come on a walled-off part of your cable internet bandwidth, and you would be free to return every one of your cable boxes — and their button-encrusted remotes — to your cable operator."

This contrasts the current cable company policy, which chargers for apps that are supposedly free.