"...what's the point of purchasing a portable TV, if I need to connect it to a directional antenna on a 30 ft tower to make it useful?"

You are obviously unaware of the main point of scientific advancements in electronics and merchandising.

The Main Point: Make it totally !NEW!, so all the older stuff is obsolete. And once its obsolete, it needs to be replaced, usually for several times the cost of the last one.

Sue