But BBC iPlayer needs the internet to work. If the premise is "do not connect it to a network to make it a dumb TV" then the apps that need the internet won't

But BBC iPlayer needs the internet to work. If the premise is "do not connect it to a network to make it a dumb TV" then the apps that need the internet won't work anyway. If the only thing is connected to is HDMI (and that device providers any apps you need)... Then surely firmware and software updates are not needed. If course the key is to never ever give it any network or Bluetooth credentials.