Chinese authorities are developing national technical standards for integrated television sets. The State Administration of Radio and Television and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology aim to embed core set-top box functions directly into the hardware and software of new TV models.
The initiative focuses on the 'one TV, one remote' concept. Integrated devices will handle live broadcasts, time-shifting, catch-up TV, and video-on-demand services natively. The new standard also includes support for ultra-high-definition content and voice control features, eliminating the need for external signal sources.
The transition will be gradual, as existing millions of television sets lack the necessary hardware or software to support these functions. The new technology will initially appear in new models, with a full market shift expected to take several years as the consumer hardware base is replaced.
As China remains the world's largest manufacturer of televisions and set-top boxes, this shift may influence global industry trends. The move could encourage international manufacturers to adopt similar integrated concepts, potentially phasing out standalone set-top boxes from home entertainment systems.
