Why cant you change tv stations manually without a remote?

The majority of televisions have some very basic controls on the television itself but they are normally limited to power, volume and channel change. There are often two buttons marked "up" and "down" with a mode button next to them. Pressing the mode button may allow a channel change mode although not all of them have the facility.

Local controls on a television have become less important as the facilities offered by the remote have increased. We expect to be able to operate and set up a television from our armchairs. Manufacturers have responded by improving hand controls and removing controls from the television. It certainly means a more convenient control method but makes the television largely useless if the remote is mislaid.

Until users demand full controls built into the television, manufacturers are very unlikely to increase the controls on the television itself.