What is the difference between a TV and a monitor? In a nutshell, a television will have a tuner to pick up broadcast, or cable stations, as well as have built-in speakers. Technically speaking, a monitor alone does not contain a tuner – it simply displays the signal from one or more inputs. However, many professional displays may have a built-in tuner, or come as an option. Similarly, some professional displays will not have speakers, while others may have them built in, or also come as an optional add on accessory.