Why doesn’t my new digital TV receive digital broadcasts?
Sometimes a digital TV will not include a tuner (or decoder or receiver) for receiving over-the-air digital broadcasts. This type of television is known as a digital TV monitor. (Sometimes an HDTV monitor will be labeled “HD-ready.” Retailers sometimes call this type of TV a “component solution.”) Consumers who subscribe to cable or satellite TV, or who will use the TV only for watching videos or playing games, may choose a monitor. But if you want to use the monitor to watch over-the-air TV, you will need to purchase additional equipment, such as a set-top receiver.
A digital TV that includes a built-in digital tuner is known as an integrated DTV. (HDTV models with built-in digital tuners may be labeled “HDTV Integrated.”) The digital tuner may also be called an ATSC tuner (or ATSC digital tuner), after the Advanced Television Systems Committee, which created the U.S. digital TV standard. Like the TVs we have always known, an integrated digital TV is ready to receive broadcasts when attached to an antenna. Keep in mind that if your household currently receives analog TV with an indoor antenna, and the reception quality is merely so-so, you may need a rooftop antenna to receive digital broadcasts.
The labels for digital TV products can be confusing, or even wrong in some cases. If you aren’t sure whether a particular model is a monitor or an integrated DTV, ask your retailer.