Hacker News Reader

I wouldn't use Apple TV, Shield or other proprietary black boxes if you want a private setup. Linux on a mini-PC with Plasma Bigscreen, your own over-the-air antenna for local TV, VacuumTube for YT, and the high seas for other content.

with things like amazon's sidewalk you might not have any choice https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_Sidewalk

How long until they have built in cellular or use a mesh?

I'm certain there are a non-zero number of TVs that either attempt to auto-join popular wifi hotspots (xfinity/tmobile/starbucks/etc.) and/or have cellular connections for telemetry.

Thinking more on this I think a business opportunity in the future will be companies that design hardware stacks that can go in random appliances that can gather usage information in the name of telemetry.

I give it +/- 5 years before an OTS coffee maker at walmart phones home.

So that TV box can phone home instead of your smart TV? What's the point?

Different homes are being phoned. If that matters.

Use a TV box that doesn't phone home, obviously. Also, don't buy a smart TV but a monitor.