The smart electronics war is widely expected to open on a third front in the coming years with the onset of the smart TV. That market will open a whole new chapter in the battle between many of the world's largest tech giants. In fact, we're starting to see some of the entrenched players in this space begin to prepare for the coming onslaught. At a recent industry convention in Washington, D.C., several of America's largest cable operators detailed their current battle plans and how they intend to survive. In this video, Fool contributor Andrew Tonner breaks down what investors need to know about this evolving battle.

Editor's note: The trade show mentioned in the video, The Cable Show, took place June 10 through 12.