To make their guests “feel at home”, hotels have had to continually update the entertainment offerings in their guest rooms to match the amenities purchased for home use. Radios were first introduced at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel in 1927, followed by the offering of televisions at the Roosevelt Hilton in New York City in 19471. In the 1960s, hotels and motels began to proudly promote the advent of color televisions, and during the 1970s, hotels started to offer the option of free movie channels or pay-per-view movies. Now, guests use the hotel TV as a monitor for streaming content from their portable devices.
Article - Beyond the Television - Hotel In Room Entertainment Has Evolved - By Robert Mandelbaum and Andrea Grigg - In today s hotels, in-room entertainment has moved beyond the television. It is just one part of the overall in-room technology package that includes internet services, streaming, and other smart interactions. While improving guest satisfaction is the primary factor for offering the latest in in-room entertainment, some amenities can also be a source of revenue.