If you have cable, then yes if you want all your regular channels, too. "Smart" means that the TV will be WIFI and will come with apps (the way smart phones do) like Netflix, Hulu Plus, VUDU, and many, many more plus often You Tube, etc. The browsers on Smart TVs often stink but the apps are nice. I can watch Netflix via my Sony TV, my Blu ray player, my iPad, etc Another words, the "smartness" is independent of cable content. You don't need a cable box for it but then you'll only be watching things such as Netflix without cable.