Not true mate…they could obsolete our tvs by forcing updates or be shut off. Ever seen any of the aps when they have a mandatory update? You either update or you can’t watch. That’s if they get control of the hdmi connections, so lets all hope that doesn’t happen. I mean they could literally say hey we’re sorry but if you don’t connect your set to the internet you can’t watch anything.
I really do not understand the issue. We have a Roku on a dumb TV. I have FUBO. Prime Fox Nation and a couple of other apps on it. Really use it for FUBO and Fox Nation. What upsell? I bought it, hooked it up put on the Apps I wanted and that was it. No idea what everyone is complaining about
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Nope. Not gonna happen.
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Sound plausible to me. We all know that $$$ are the only thing that matters in the corporate world. I’m betting that they are salivating to follow suit.
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PMFJI - If you’ve got something plugged into the HDMI ports on the back instead of using the apps on the ‘smart’ TV, then the apps are never activated to know that there is any mandatory update available. I think of it as performing a lobotomy on the so-called ‘smart’ TV.
but…pretty much all smart tvs have a home screen where you can select the input of which device you choose. If you can’t access the home screen then how will you choose your input? The roku tv I have (tcl) will not go to the home screen unless it gets internet connection.
Point being that’s how easy it would be for any tv maker to effectively lock you out of your tv. 
My Samsung doesn’t require any manual HDMI selection. As soon as I start my system up including the Buzz P6L it autoconnects/switches to the input of the active device. I have never even gone into my TVs system to change anything. It’s a system called “One Connect”. It has never connected to the internet or ever updated.
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I recently bought a new Amazon based TV. I’ve not logged into Amazon on the TV to eliminate any connection to Amazon. I bought an HDMI switch box which I turn on first for my Shield. Then I power up the Shield which turns on the TV and immediately opens the Shields home screen. So far so good.
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The problem is that Roku and other streaming devices push all of these streaming services at you. Once you subscribe to watch what you want, you now have 6 services and your bill is higher than what you paid for cable. Roku gets a cut of every one of these streaming services that you sign up for.
I have a premiumize account that I use with Umbrella Kodi addon and I get EVERYTHING that I could ever want in terms of movies and TV shows. I then pay Alibaba $35 bucks per year for my IPTV service that gives me all live channels that I would ever need, PPV, sports packages, etc.
All in for $100 for EVERYTHING I could ever need or want.
Well if they could take over HDMI on the TV. Purchase a Projector screen and a nice Projector with HDMI and plug you device into the Projector and project your movies onto the screen. I have a Projector that works indoor and outdoor and a screen for indoor or outdoor use. Before you buy a Projector make sure you know how much the light bulb costs to replace and if used how many hours are on the light bulb. Also check to see if you can hook up a stereo and or speakers to it. I have one that does it all but I forget the brand. Cost used was about 300 bucks. Hope the suggestion helps.
Tv manufacturers are not going to take over your HDMI ports lol.
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It runs deep here! 
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Yeah, this is probably wrong, right? Why in heaven’s name would they do that?
Roku has filed patents for inserting ads over HDMI inputs, meaning they could potentially show advertisements over content from other devices connected to your TV. They’ve also tested ads that appear immediately when you turn on your television, before you even select an app.
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don’t say me and Jerry didn’t warn you lol……if you don’t think these companies will go to any length to control what you watch, you are kidding yourself. But nice hat
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seems alot of people are using prime,amazon tv,fubo and so on paying for all these diff streaming services? my iptv service has all those rolled into one including prime and all the others for one low price? i don’t get paying for all these other services when you can get it all on a decent iptv provider?
just sayin
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@Comtech, so my question is: Do you get ads with your IPTV service?
I will say only ads are on live tv, if I am watching something on say FX or USA.
@DaveZerf if you are getting what you need then all is good. That is the important thing.
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Can’t do that with a Roku!!
There should be a button on the bottom of the TV somewhere that will allow you to get to a menu with several options. I think they put that there in case you lose the remote and can’t get the home screen app to move. Some of the options are to select different HDMI inputs. Of course, I guess they could change the design of their TVs and not include the button on them any more, but I’m not familiar with many of them.
I tried to leave this reply weeks ago, but it just appeared again when I returned to this thread. . .