Digital TV Design Online reports that television manufacturers are removing analog tuners from their televisions, rather than add digital tuners to them (Tuning Stripped Out of Rear Projection CRT TVs). Why?

However, it was later found out that by eliminating all tuning, the sets bypassed the FCC tuner mandate for all TVs 36-in. and above, which goes into effect on July 1st. And, as a bonus, the company will be able to offer the sets at much lower prices. The 57-in. widescreen model " 57HC85 " is priced at $1,599.99 (list), which means that it will sell for about $1,300-$1,400 (street).

By not having any tuners in their sets at all (e.g., having consumers rely on cable and satellite set-top boxes and on DVRs and DVD players) the manufacturers can lower the cost of their sets. ¶ Impact: even fewer off-air DTV receivers, increasing reliance on cable (and perhaps ultimately on satellite local/local) for reception of broadcast DTV stations.)