Between the massive TVs and AI demos at CES, Pearl TV is showing something much less exciting: a small black box meant to sit next to your TV.

The group announced plans for a NEXTGEN TV converter box that would let people with antennas and older TVs keep watching free local channels as broadcasters move toward ATSC 3.0, the next version of over-the-air TV. If this sounds familiar, it should. It’s basically the same idea as the converter boxes people needed when TV went digital years ago.

The reason it’s back is simple. Not everyone is replacing their TV, and not everyone streams everything. A lot of households still rely on antennas for local news, weather, sports, and emergency alerts. ATSC 3.0 doesn’t work with older TVs, which means those viewers could eventually lose access unless something fills the gap.

At CES, Pearl TV is showing early versions of the box made with companies like Skyworth, a manufacturer behind many mainstream TVs. The pitch isn’t flashy. Plug it in, keep watching, and don’t buy a new TV just yet.

It’s not the kind of thing people stop for selfies with on the show floor. But it’s a quiet reminder that while tech keeps moving fast, a lot of people are still watching TV the same way they always have. And someone still has to make sure it works.