Source: https://bsky.app/profile/funnysnarkyjoke.bsky.social/post/3lmkfwebeuc27
In fact you can use your smartphone to change the channel on nearly any TV. In the comments on that post some people talk about how to do it. Basically you need a smartphone with either builtin IR or use a USB-C IR blaster or if your phone has a 3.5mm headphone jack you can also try one of those but I’m not sure if the 3.5mm ones are as commonly supported.
I use the kit-built one of these: https://www.tvbgone.com/shop/ – They gave a bunch of them away at the end of a makefaire I was a part of years ago.
The TV-B-Gone is really cool especially because it’s so small but of course it just shuts off the TV. I’ve seen a few keychain sized universal remotes that have buttons.
I just wrote a comment in reply to someone suggesting unplugging the TV: https://lemm.ee/post/65246982/20771041
Basically it’s nice that you get peace and quiet but turning it off is more noticeable.
the tv-b-gone is more universal than a universal remote….
my favorite trick is going to one of those bars with 30 tv sets everywhere… although that’s just kind of neutral-evil
These are amazing. I regularly use mine to shut off the “CP24” channel (news +ads +weather +ads +traffic +more ads, in the Toronto area) anywhere I go. I think nobody actually likes that shit but we all tolerate it because we think other people do.