In addition to channel reception, what does a digital TV (DTV) receiver do?

A digital TV (DTV) receiver primarily functions to decode digital broadcast signals. One of its key roles is to decode the MPEG-2 Transport Stream, which is a standard for transmission and storage of audio, video, and data. When a DTV receiver receives a digital signal, it processes this transport stream to extract and convert it into a format that can be displayed on the screen, ensuring that viewers receive high-quality audio and video performance.

While options such as upconverting analog signals and enhancing image resolution are functions of certain types of devices, the primary capability of a DTV receiver is focused on processing digital signals specifically. Providing internet connectivity may also be a feature of smart TVs but is not a core function of traditional DTV receivers. Thus, the decoding of the MPEG-2 Transport Stream stands out as the definitive task performed by a digital TV receiver in addition to simply receiving channels.