I don't even understand the pitch? you have the disc playing, in your hands, your ownership, no buffering, no subscription required. and they're saying....hey do you want a worse experience?
Is this a samsung tv? If it is one of the cheap tv's like Vizio and such they have this live advertising which is awful. I always buy non-smart TV's but now they actually cost more then the smart ones if you are going for a big 65-85" TV.
Serious question: How much of a brick risk is opening up one of these smart tvs and ripping out the wifi card? Can't connect to the internet if you don't have the hardware to do so.
(Obviously pretty high if legit caveman-style ripping out. Could also be really hard, I have no idea).
This was my thinking as well, plus addressing the 'solution for those without IT experience' bit. Search for video/article on removing wireless connectivity hardware, grab your screwdriver and get to work.
Still takes some work, obviously, and a lot of people are scared to void warranties/open up consumer electronics, but from the outside it sounds more straight-forward than futzing about with network settings. IMO worth it if concerned about the connectivity bits, willing to do it and the price is right for the TV as a dumb TV.
Alternatively, use used dumb TVs for as long as you can.
But I also don't understand why HDMI has fucking DRM built into it.
If I remember correctly, the DRM was a result of pushback from the MPAA back when Blue-Ray and HD-DVD were coming out. They didn’t want a digital signal that could be easily recorded like S-Video or composite.
I mean if it's possible to use it without connecting it to a network... You should be good until they cut a deal with cell providers to push their shit over soldered on LTE chips.
some TVs that are used in a business environment are able to be set up without internet, mainly because the displays are almost always externally driven over LAN or HDMI.