one of the best features of the ps3 is the built in blu ray/ dvd player, since it is cheaper than most blu ray players. you don't NEED a special tv to play the blu ray discs on, but its nice to have an hd tv+hdmi hook up for the ps3 since blu ray is meant to be watched in hd. you can watch them on an sd tv, but that kind of defeats the purpose of blu ray doesnt it?