Topic: Set Top Box

A host describes a total failure of the AT&T U-verse IPTV system following a hardware overheating issue. The discussion covers the lack of internal fans in the HP-manufactured boxes and the cumbersome software reset process involving repeated power cycling. The segment concludes with a critique of the lack of a clock on modern set-top boxes.

The FCC's proposal to open the set-top box market is analyzed as a move to benefit Google's data collection capabilities. The hosts argue that if Google controls the interface, they can precisely measure viewership, which would dismantle the current "belief system" of Nielsen ratings. They suggest the real fight is over who controls the advertising and the ability to track user behavior in real-time.