Sony, U.S. cable firms to make TVs without set-top boxes

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Sony Corp and six major U.S. cable operators have agreed on the joint development of digital television sets that will allow consumers to dispense with set-top boxes, a U.S. industry group said Wednesday.

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The six firms are Comcast Corp, Time Warner Cable Inc, Cox Communications Inc, Charter Communications, Cablevision Systems Corp and Bright House Networks, according to the National Cable & Telecommunications Association.

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Sony and the U.S. operators will unify standards for digital video distribution and promote digital cable-ready products compatible with interactive services such as video on demand, the association said.

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The six companies provide services to more than 82% of all U.S. cable subscribers, according to the association.

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