Buying and selling a television

The seller's responsibility

The seller has a responsibility to inform the customer of the interoperability of equipment, the services available and broadcasting technologies. The seller is required to provide customers with clear, extensive and up-to-date information on product characteristics and any limitations the products may have with respect to the availability of television services (such as channel packages and Internet TV services).

If the television does not meet the agreed specifications or is unsuitable for its intended purpose, the consumer is entitled to demand the rectification of the defect in question.
Defective or faulty goods

Tips for TV buyers

Due to the ongoing evolution of devices, services and broadcasting technologies, TV buyers should identify their needs before buying a television set.

Key issues to consider include:

1. The availability of high definition or HD programming.
2. The possibility to watch pay-TV channels. Watching pay-TV channels on a television set requires the appropriate slot for a programme card of a pay-TV operator.
3. The possibility to watch internet television. Even if the set is a smart TV that allows surfing the internet, not all models have the possibility for using all services.
4. Connections (e.g. HDMI, SCART, USB). Connections make it possible to e.g. connect a television to broadband, and to connect a home theatre system, camera, or other accessories to the television.
5. The possibility to record programmes.

Transition to high-definition broadcasting and terminal devices

The television antenna network will migrate fully to DVB-T2 technology to enable high-definition, or HD broadcasting. Pay-TV will adopt DVB-T2 broadcasting earlier than other channels.

Since some antenna households are already equipped with the appropriate devices, they will not necessarily need any new equipment. Consumers in the antenna network not yet equipped with an HD ready television or a set-top box will need to purchase one.

Before buying a new television or a set-top box, consumers should check whether their device is equipped with a DVB-T2 tuner, which enables them to watch television programmes in the new technological format.

How to check your device:

• If the technical specifications indicate that the device includes a DVB-T2 tuner, you can continue using it to watch TV programmes.
  
  To check this, go to the www.testatutlaitteet.fi website, which contains a list of all terminal devices that have been tested in Finland for both the cable and the terrestrial television network. It will also tell you if your device has a DVB-T2 standard compliant tuner.
  
  
• Even if your television or set-top box is not equipped with a DVB-T2 tuner, you can continue watching programmes if you buy a set-top box equipped with a DVB-T2 tuner.

The labels Antenna Ready HD and Cable Ready HD indicate that HD broadcasts can be viewed on the television set

The label Antenna Ready HD indicates that the set can be used for viewing HD broadcasts on the antenna network. If the television does not have the label in question, HD broadcasts can be watched alternately by connecting a digital decoder with the label Antenna Ready HD to the set.

The label Cable Ready HD indicates that the set can be used for viewing HD broadcasts on the cable television network. If the television does not have the label in question, HD broadcasts can be watched alternately by connecting a digital decoder with the label Cable Ready HD to the set.

Changes in the terrestrial network and HD broadcasts (Finnish Communications Regulatory Authority)
Broadcasting and reception of television programmes (Finnish Communications Regulatority Authority)