Ok...I live in an apartment. I have always lived in apartments but have never actually owned a TV. The apartments all seem to have some type of Coax cable hookup. If I buy a TV at the local mall (new) what else do I need to access that hookup ? Do I need some type of set top box ? I understand I can subscribe to content but this is really about the basics of what I need to whatever is being provided by my landlord onto a new TV screen.

You need to ask apartment what is provided to that coax outlet.

your building is maybe already connected with a box . some ask 200 bahts a month. all you need is to ask.

if you are just connected to the satellite dish, you can buy a smart TV for less 6000 bahts . these TV just need to be plugged to a satellite antenna. no need external box. the satellite tuner is built inside the TV and you can in same time get a numeric antenna for a few baht for Thai channels