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TV at IFA 2010: At that time there was still a good chance of getting TV sets without an Internet connection
Photo: Sean Gallup / Getty Images
Modern televisions can do much more than just show TV programs: so-called smart TVs are powerful multimedia machines with their own operating systems, app stores and voice assistants.
The market for these internet televisions is booming.
4.1 million smart TVs have been sold in Germany this year alone.
According to the German TV platform industry association, the market share of networked televisions is now 88 percent, five percent higher than last year.
According to the association, the reason for the success of smart TVs is that customers have a choice and can watch linear TV programs as well as use streaming apps.
But who thinks of the customers who don't even need such smart internet functions?
What about those viewers who just want to connect their Playstation, Xbox, Apple TV or Amazon Fire TV Cube to the television using an HDMI cable?
Without apps and without internet frills?
It is not easy for these buyers to find a suitable device.
The business with user data
The big manufacturers have long since turned away from offline TV.
After all, not only customers benefit from smart TV functions, but also manufacturers: some of the smart TVs spy on the viewing habits of users for advertising purposes and sometimes display personalized ads directly in the TV menu.
The mains connection makes it possible.
Anyone who wants to do without it, as Internet activist Frank Rieger, rightly asks: "Are there actually current televisions without this 'smart' epidemic with spyware, cameras, microphones?"
The device should be capable of a resolution of 4K, be larger than 40 inches and bring along modern display technology.
In the answers, some Twitter users recommend giving up the search and pulling the plug.
Why not simply cut off the wireless connection to the router when you can do without playing your online series directly on the television?
Then the TV set is practically blind and really only shows what the TV stations are broadcasting via cable or antenna.
In addition, you should be able to save money when buying an offline TV because its equipment would be more sparse than with a smart TV.
If you really only want to buy a TV set without Internet functions, you have a good chance in the department for computer monitors.
It is clear there: a computer that is connected to the Internet is almost always attached to these displays.
Such monitors are usually simple, with connections for power and video signals.
While Ultra HD resolution is easy to find, size becomes an issue here.
Monitors larger than 55 inches are in short supply.
After all, giant displays with a screen diagonal of 1.40 meters take up a lot of space on the desk.
Smart functions are standard
In the case of TV sets, on the other hand, the trend is clearly towards 65 inches and more.
With the large TV manufacturers, however, it looks as if an internet requirement would apply on this scale.
Hardly any company still has devices without smart functions in its range.
When asked whether Sony still has 4K televisions 55 inches or larger without Internet functions in its range, a spokesman answered SPIEGEL's inquiry with a clear "no".
Sony relies on a high variety of functions through services such as video-on-demand and online libraries in order to "meet the modern demands of our customers".
In addition, updates imported via the Internet would provide more security and additional functions.
It should be noted that the televisions can also be used without an Internet connection, says the spokesman.
"Every TV in the Sony range offers such an option."
Even at Samsung, nothing works without the Internet.
A spokesman says: "Today people watch television when it suits people."
Therefore, every new TV from Samsung is equipped with smart functions, for example to access videos from the network.
"The vast majority of customers just expect it."
But here, too, the following applies: Samsung televisions also generally work without an Internet connection.
Anyone who rejects any online equipment will not find anything among the top dogs on the TV market.
In the US there are companies like Scepter and Onn that offer non-network televisions.
However, these models are hard to come by in this country.
In Germany, the company Medion from Essen lists current 4K televisions without an internet connection.
The Aldi brand has two models in sizes 55 and 65 inches that do not have any network functions.
Start-up relies on offline TVs
A look at Austria, however, shows another trend: The start-up Nogis has turned offline televisions into a business model.
Although the devices lack modern connections such as HDMI 2.1 and image enhancements such as Dolby Vision, the resolution is contemporary with 4K and sizes of up to 75 inches are planned.
The idea: Customers in Austria should save the broadcasting fees because the TVs not only lack an Internet connection, but also do not have built-in cable or antenna tuners.
External streaming boxes are free of charge in Austria.
This is different in Germany, as the fees are charged per household.
Nevertheless, there are many German customers, although no advertising has ever been placed outside Austria, says Nogis boss Thomas Höffinger to SPIEGEL.
"Most customers have been streaming for a long time," says Höffinger.
That is why many households already have a laptop or a game console for the video signal.
"As a result, a Smart TV makes little sense for our customers."
Also, his company does not have to earn money with customer data like other manufacturers.
"We only earn from selling our TVs."
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