Smart tv remote control issue

Yesterday I purchased a new 27" LG smart tv.  Set up went fine; however, I cannnot get to cable tv when I turn on my tv and cable box with my Uverse remote.  I now have to use the LG remote to get to the hdmi1 icon.  When I click on this icon the tv immediately goes to the cable channels.  The Vizio that we had previously did the same thing.  The Vizio was previously working fine with just the Uverse remote, then two days ago started doing the same thing as the LG.  Has anyone else encountered this problem and is there a solution?