I think he may have meant that if all available APs are using encryption, then you don't have to worry about your TV automatically connecting.

Yeah I guess that makes sense. But a neighbor that turns on an open wifi hotspot would be all it takes for the TV to connect for a bit.

It's not something that should just be left up to chance, but I also don't know of a good solution other than regulation.

Savvy users can probably open up the back of the TV and unplug the antenna cables, though that will tend to make manufacturers disagreeable should you ever seek warranty service.

WiFi standard password protects encrypted networks. If the router can’t login and you don’t connect Ethernet it’s not connected to the internet.

Not every network requires a password.

Encrypted ones do, at least every commercial version these TV’s would be able to use. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wi-Fi_Protected_Setup Is the closest thing to an exception that I know of but still required user action to connect, and it’s been deprecated for a long time.

Some enterprise systems don’t require users to enter passwords, but the software still uses them internally when talking to the network.

PS: Unless you know of some other exception?

Nothing’s stopping TVs from hopping on unencrypted networks.

WiFi has limited range, so some people have control over what local networks exist.

Or even from silently bruteforcing passwords.