These tiny new devices are being replaced by cable companies’ outdated cable boxes

The traditional cable box is becoming obsolete as cable companies, including Comcast and Charter, seek to replace them with sleek streaming devices like the Xumo Stream Box. These devices offer live TV channels through company apps and provide access to numerous streaming platforms like Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, and more. Comcast and Charter are adopting a “can’t beat ’em so join ’em” strategy to counteract the impact of cord-cutting, responding to the decline in cable subscriptions and the rise of a fragmented media environment with numerous competing streaming services.

In an effort to simplify the television experience for customers and adapt to the streaming era, cable companies are combining live TV with streaming services. The Xumo Stream Box allows customers to flip through channels in a manner reminiscent of traditional cable channel surfing, offering a response to competitors like Roku and Google. The Xumo remote features a number pad for channel browsing and includes voice control, distinguishing it from conventional cable boxes.

While existing Spectrum and Xfinity customers can retain their traditional cable boxes, new customers will receive Xumo devices unless they specifically request a set-top box. The transition from cable boxes to Xumo is also expected to result in cost savings for customers. As of January 30, Spectrum’s cable box rental fee will increase to $12.50 per month, whereas the Xumo streaming box costs $5 a month to rent or $60 to own outright.

This shift in strategy represents a departure from cable companies’ previous focus on encouraging households to add as many set-top cable boxes as possible. With more Americans turning to streaming TV than traditional cable, companies like Comcast and Charter are evolving to stay relevant in the changing media landscape. The adoption of devices like Xumo reflects a broader industry trend toward integrating streaming services into a unified platform to simplify the viewing experience for customers. However, the complete phasing out of traditional cable boxes may take time, according to industry insiders.