電視盒子是一個小型的(de)計算(suan)終端設備，只要簡(jian)單的(de)通過HDMI或(huo)色差線等技術將(jiang)其與傳(chuan)統(tong)電視連接，就能在傳(chuan)統(tong)電視上(shang)實現網頁瀏覽、網絡視頻(pin)播放、應用程序安(an)裝，甚至能將(jiang)你手機、平(ping)板中(zhong)的(de)照片(pian)和視頻(pin)投射到家中(zhong)的(de)大屏幕(mu)電視當中(zhong)。

它可以將互聯(lian)網(wang)內(nei)容通(tong)過其在(zai)電(dian)(dian)視(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)機(ji)(ji)上(shang)進行播放，此前(qian)在(zai)互聯(lian)網(wang)領域被(bei)稱之為(wei)網(wang)絡高清(qing)播放機(ji)(ji)，后(hou)被(bei)廣(guang)電(dian)(dian)總局(ju)定義為(wei)互聯(lian)網(wang)電(dian)(dian)視(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)機(ji)(ji)頂盒(he)。它與可接入互聯(lian)網(wang)的智(zhi)能電(dian)(dian)視(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)一起，統稱為(wei)“互聯(lian)網(wang)電(dian)(dian)視(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)”。業內(nei)認為(wei)，隨(sui)(sui)著國家對于版權問題的愈(yu)發(fa)重視(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)，電(dian)(dian)視(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)盒(he)子(zi)上(shang)的“免費午餐”將會(hui)越來越少，其市場競爭力亦會(hui)隨(sui)(sui)之減(jian)弱。而目前(qian)大部分智(zhi)能電(dian)(dian)視(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)在(zai)功(gong)能和使用上(shang)，具備甚至已超過了電(dian)(dian)視(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)盒(he)子(zi)，更多廠商在(zai)新品開(kai)發(fa)過程中也愿意將機(ji)(ji)頂盒(he)功(gong)能內(nei)置(zhi)在(zai)電(dian)(dian)視(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)中，因此電(dian)(dian)視(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)盒(he)子(zi)今后(hou)或和智(zhi)能電(dian)(dian)視(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)“合體”。