Sony's Broadcast section has an article on how to tune or retune Sony's Android TV or Google TV for analogue, cable and terrestrial reception, and one about subtitle settings not being retained. On a Google TV, open Settings, Channels and Inputs, Channels, Channel setup, choose Antenna or Cable, and run Automatic tuning; the TV scans and saves channels, which can take several minutes. Connect the coax cable to the ANTENNA/CABLE input firmly, and choose the correct input as the source. Place the antenna near a window and clear of electronics, try an amplified model where the signal is weak, and rescan after every move.
Check the signal quality on the Signal information screen for a channel. Retune if the channel list goes blank after a software update. Rescan now and then, since stations change channels.
The checks in more detail
Sony's Live Channels app (Live TV) shows the tuner channels, and Google TV can also list free streaming channels without an antenna. If the tuner finds nothing with a known good antenna, check the cable and any splitter or booster, restart the TV by holding Power and try again. Some models have no tuner: check your model's specifications, since a few BRAVIA models sold as streaming displays do not include a tuner.
Factory reset erases the channel list, so retune afterwards. Contact Sony if the tuner fails. Scan at different times of day; some stations reduce power at night. Position matters more than antenna price. Keep a written list of the channels you expect so a rescan that finds fewer is noticed at once, and note the time of day of each scan, because reception often varies between afternoon and evening.
Differential
Likely causes of “Sony BRAVIA TV line cannot find antenna channels”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
The wrong input or type
What separates it No channels appear because the wrong input or tuner type is selected
How to confirm Choose Antenna or Cable in the channel setup, and tune the TV again
- 2
A weak signal
What separates it Few channels appear because the antenna signal is weak
How to confirm Move the antenna or add an amplifier to give the tuner more signal
- 3
A loose or damaged coax
What separates it Channels come and go because the coax cable is loose or damaged
How to confirm Tighten the coax connections, or replace a damaged cable
- 4
An old scan
What separates it Stations are missing because the last scan is out of date
How to confirm Retune so that new and moved stations are found
- 5
No tuner in the model
What separates it There is no antenna input because the model has no tuner
How to confirm Check the specifications of your model, since some have no tuner
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Whether the TV is set to Antenna or Cable
- The signal quality the TV reports
- How many channels the tuning found
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedConnect the antenna
ReversiblePlug the antenna into the antenna input on the back of the TV using a good coax cable.
Open Channel setup
ReversibleOpen Channel setup in the settings, and choose Antenna or Cable, depending on your connection.
Run Automatic tuning
ReversibleRun Automatic tuning, and wait for it to finish before you change any settings, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Check signal information
ReversibleOpen the signal information, which shows the quality of each channel received, and test again.
Reposition the antenna
ReversibleMove the antenna, ideally to a window and away from metal and electronics, and test again.
Retune
ReversibleRetune after each antenna move, because the tuner only finds what it sees while tuning.
Restart the TV
ReversibleRestart the TV if nothing is found, and then try the tuning again, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Models this page covers
- Sony BRAVIA 2 II, 5, 7, 8, 8 II and 9, A80L, A90J and A95L, X85K, X90L, X95L and X900H TVs. Sony writes one support article per fault for its BRAVIA TVs; the notes name where panel type, HDMI 2.1 ports and the Google TV version differ.
- Tuner
- Most BRAVIA models include an ATSC tuner; confirm in the specifications.
- Streaming
- Streaming apps do not need the tuner.
- Tools and supplies
- The TV remote and fresh batteries, a known good HDMI cable, a flashlight for a backlight test, your phone with the Google TV app and a pen and paper for the model and serial number. No screwdriver is needed and a TV should not be opened.
- Repair cost
- Restarts, resets, cable swaps and settings changes cost nothing. When hardware is at fault, published repair figures put an average TV repair at $100 to $350: a power board $200 to $475, an LED backlight $100 to $300, a T-Con board $100 to $200 and a main board anywhere from $25 to $300 depending on the panel (Fixr, HomeGuide and repair-shop data). Samsung TVs carry a limited warranty from the date of purchase, which is worth checking before any paid repair. A wrong input, an HDMI setting or a network fault costs nothing to fix whichever model you own.
- Scanning on a Google TV
- Open Settings, Channels and inputs, Channels, Antenna and run the scan with the antenna connected. If channels are missing, use the manual tune option for a frequency you know, and scan twice. Check the signal strength meter while you move the antenna, and aim for steady strength above the minimum.
- Reducing interference
- Move wireless routers, LED bulbs and chargers away from the antenna cable. An amplifier helps in weak areas but can overload in strong ones. Use a short, good-quality cable and avoid sharp bends that damage it.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit models A80L, A90J, A95L, BRAVIA 2 II LED TV, BRAVIA 5 Mini LED TV, BRAVIA 7 Mini LED TV, BRAVIA 8 II QD-OLED TV, BRAVIA 9 Mini LED TV, X85K, X900H, X95L.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If Automatic tuning finds nothing with a known good antenna, contact Sony
- !When only some stations are missing, reposition the antenna
- !If the model has no tuner, use a set-top box
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Where the manufacturer's article stops. The menu paths are Sony's own and vary by model year. Repair prices are typical published ranges and vary by shop and model.
Index of Google TV help articles.
Google TV help topics.
Restart, reset settings, update, Safe Mode and Clear data.
Power cord, reset, TV button and external devices.
The company and its products.
Exact questions
Common questions
How do I retune a BRAVIA?+
Settings, Channels and Inputs, Channels, Channel setup, Automatic tuning.
Does Sony have a retune article?+
Yes, Sony has an article about retuning, on its support site.
How do I check signal?+
You check the signal in the signal information screen, in the channel setup.
Do all models have a tuner?+
No, not all models have a tuner, so check the specifications of yours.
Can streaming replace antenna channels?+
Yes, Google TV has free channels, which stream over the internet.
What is Live Channels?+
Live Channels is the app that shows the channels from the tuner.
Where is the antenna scan on the Bravia 8?+
Settings, Channels and inputs, Channels.
Why does the picture break up?+
A weak signal or interference.