If you are unable to keep a set-top box near the TV at home due to less space, then this post is for you where you will know that TV channels can be enjoyed even without a set-top box. And if you are reading this post to know what is the way in which you can watch TV even without using a set-top box.

You have mainly two ways to enjoy TV channels without a set-top box. –

Buy Smart TV only –

Here Smart TV means having memory, applications, and Google Play Store inside the TV. Where you can watch Live TV Channels by downloading OTT Android Application. There are many such applications where live TV channels are found such as Jio TV, Airtel TV, Nxg TV, etc.

You can search for that live TV by going to the YouTube application. You can also watch live TV channels through other applications such as Mx player, Hotstar, Zee5, SonyLiv, etc.

Using Google Chrome –

You can also watch Live TV without installing Google apps, Just open Google Chrome and enter this URL.

You can bookmark this URL, so next time you can open all the Live TV links with a single click.

Buy the New TV Sets with a digital tuner –

If your budget is less then you should buy such LED TV which has a digital tuner inbuilt instead of an analog. With the help of a digital tuner and indoor Digital tv antenna, you can watch regional Terrestrial Channels of Doordarshan as well as HD Channels of Doordarshan, and SD Channels. Moreover, you can also listen to digital radio channels.

So whenever you buy a TV, definitely ask about the digital tuner in it. Nowadays, most TV manufacturers give you TV benches with the same old analog technology in new boxes and models, which do not run without cable TV, internet, or DTH.

So if you want to watch TV without cable TV, internet or DTH, then definitely check out the digital tuner.

How do you know if your TV has a digital tuner?

Your TV set must have an inbuilt digital tuner if you want to watch over-the-air television channels or watch TV channels for free.

But what if you have tried to auto-scan and are well connected to the indoor and outdoor antenna but still not getting the channel? This means that your TV set does not have a digital tuner.

Now how to check if your TV set has an inbuilt digital tuner? Don’t worry, we’ll show you a simple method to check the digital tuner in your current television.

A digital tuner allows a television to receive DTV signals broadcast over the air by local TV stations.

DTV User Manual –

You can find the user manual provided by the TV manufacturer and find that it mentions that the TV set has –

• Integrated Digital Tuner (IDTV)
• Digital tuner
• DTV
• HDTV

But if you find the following labels, which are not indicators of a built-in digital tuner:

• Digital Ready
• Digital monitor
• HDTV monitor
• HDTV Ready

TV sets that do not have a built-in digital tuner will not receive over-the-air television unless they are connected to a digital set-top box.

Contact Customer Care –

You can contact the TV manufacturers to confirm whether a digital tuner is available with your TV. If it’s not available they can help you install it.

Do All New TVs Have Digital Tuners?

No, most countries have already turned off analog reception for over-the-air broadcasts. But a lot of TV manufacturers are still providing analog RF tuners. There is no use for this analog tuner nowadays. So still in 2021, low-cost television sets do not have a digital tuner. For this, you have to buy a digital set-top box. But if you are buying a smart TV then it may have a digital tuner. Because Samsung brand is providing digital tuners in almost all smart TV.

So before buying a new TV, you need to confirm with the manufacturer about the inbuilt digital tuner.

The Free-to-air channels or FTA Channels mean that such TV channels are available in an unencrypted form i.e. no special pay TV set-top box or any monthly subscription is required to watch them.

Earnings and Expenses of Free-to-Air TV Channels –

Free-to-air TV channels earn money only through advertisements. But their expenses are equal to that of paying TV channels, as cable operators take money from them, DTH service takes platform charges from them and they have to pay for satellite or teleport to broadcast from C-Band.

Prior to this, for any free-to-air channel to be broadcast, they had to take permission or a license from the entertainment department of their country, for which they also have to pay a one-time fee.

Availability of FTA Channels –

All free-to-air TV channels in India must be on C-Band satellite. Recently, free-to-air TV channels have faced another restriction by the court, according to which now no free-to-air TV channel can be free-to-air from Ku-band. Except in DD Freedish only. Because it harms DTH, Cable TV, and DD Freedish.

Despite the choice of free-to-air satellites by the public (who live on a limited budget), these TV channels do not get any subsidy, rebate, or concession from the government. That’s why you must have seen that many FTA channels start, walk a little and stop while struggling.

But if you want to watch FTA channels using any Pay TV system then you don’t have to pay for TV channels, but you have to pay for network Capacity fees, which are about Rs.150 monthly including taxes. It is a very high price that’s why subscribers leave those types of platforms and move to OTT platforms or Doordarshan DTH where they can watch FTA channels without any NCF or other charges.

Support FTA Channels –

That’s why you must look for free-to-air TV channels. And talk about their programs among themselves or on social media. So that free entertainment can survive in the world of 5G today.

View all free-to-air channel lists available in India from here, which can be viewed without recharge through pay-TV systems and free-to-air satellite TV equipment. You can watch free channels by targeting this equipment on a C-Band. You can watch the best satellite for free-to-air channels in India from here.

You can learn the installation of DTH, Satellite TV, IPTV, Digital TV, Freeview TV, and OTT here. You can find more FAQs about FTA channels here.