This is the plain answer right here. The article promotes wasting way too much effort clicking around in the manufacturer's dark-patterned paradigm that merely provides some simulation of user empowerment. The simple answer is that no network backhaul means no surveillance. And if you want bonus points, open it up and pull the wifi card.

I'd caveat by not completely ruling out updating over the network though. Because you should only really be doing updates as part of your initial purchase/setup while it's still in the product return period, otherwise you can fall victim to post-sale revocation of functionality regardless of how an update is delivered.

Also perhaps not as applicable to TVs, but the initial purchase/return period is when you should be doing any advanced setup like pulling the wifi card or installing libre software distribution on a device. Otherwise you'll likely never actually get around to it later on once the device is "working". Ideally, think about how you're going to set up any given device/model in a freedom-preserving manner before you even buy it.

It is only a matter of time until the manufacturers include a GSM modem (under their control), and exfiltrate the info they want without using your network at all.

Well, I think it’s ok to connect it to WiFi (with temp password), update it, then disconnect it and change the WiFi password. Yes I know it’ll try to phone out with unprotected WiFi but those are increasingly rare. You won’t be able to update it later without a usb stick though.

It’ll probably be fine. Probably.

A long time ago I read on Reddit that Samsung TVs would be able to use any Samsung phone to get a wifi password and connect home. Even if no access was allowed. I don’t know if it’s true but it wouldn’t surprise me.

I tried searching for a link but couldn’t immediately find any to back up the claim.