There are many "streaming boxes" like the Google TV and Apple TV, but as you said, the cable companies aren't going to rollover. It has to happen eventually, though....Oh, wait....
Lesson learned from Google TV: The cable channels locked up all the good shit so there was nothing on at all.
I can't believe apple would make that mistake after Goog so clearly spelled it out for them.
iTV will be a hit. Buy stock, bros.
I don't believe Apple will be able dominate internet TV.
Unless for some twisted reason they decide to create a TV network, which would make absolutely no sense to me, they will just be improving the Apple TV experience, which doesn't offer an non-hardware exclusive features that other devices can't provide.
They will rack up automatic hardware sales because of the ultra-strong brand loyalty, but it's likely things shape up similar to the way smartphones are now: Apple with a significant portion, but Android/others are still alive.