Digital cable offers customers far more channels to watch than standard cable--typically in the hundreds-- and gives them an interactive on-screen program schedule.

FORBES: Cable Companies Dish Data

Someone watching a cable series at a friend's house can finish the program at home or on their mobile device, schedule their DVR to record an episode, even record the full season, just by sampling the screen for a second or two.

ENGADGET: TVSync API unveiled, helps devs build second-screen and smart TV apps