X

Get your TV (and other devices) football-ready

With the annual Big Game coming up, now's the time to make sure your TV is set up perfectly. Here are CNET's best tips for making sure your living room is ready for some football.

CNET staff
3 min read

The NFL championship game is around the corner, and if you're planning to park yourself in front of your TV for the day, now's the time to make sure your set-up is perfect. Here are our best tips for making sure your living room is ready for some football.

Tips for watching the game

Watch the Big Game on just about any device
The big game is set to take place on February 2 at MetLife Stadium. Here's how you can watch it live on any device.
Read: How to watch the Super Bowl live

Download these apps for Sunday's game
There's more to do than check Twitter. Here are four apps that you'll want to have in hand during Sunday's game.

Read: Four must-have Super Bowl apps

Buying the right TV

Great super-sized TVs
TVs are getting bigger every year, and our annual American football championship can be all the reason you need to upgrade your set. Here are our favorite TVs over 64 inches.
Read: Six big screens for the big game

Watch this: Best TVs for the big game

Get the right size TV
Make sure you don't get a TV that's too big or too small for your room.
Read: How big a TV should I buy?

Getting set up

Find the perfect spot for your TV
A lot of factors will determine the best location for a TV in your room. Follow these dos and don'ts on figuring out where your TV will look and perform at its best.
Read: Where should I put my TV?

Get your TV at the right height
Putting your TV too high or too low will affect your viewing. Here's how to get it just right.
Read: How high should I put my TV?

Make sure your TV is secure
All TVs are tall, heavy, and have pointy parts. Best not to let them fall on you (or the children, friends, and pets that cohabitate in your abode).
Read: How to keep your TV from falling over

Get the most out of your TV

Easy steps for a better-looking TV
New TVs ship with settings to make them look good in the store, not in your living room. Here are some some easy ways get your picture looking the way you want it.
Read: Five steps for a better-looking TV

Use the right picture mode
Cinema, Sports, Dynamic, Vivid, Standard. Every new TV has multiple picture mode presets that change the way your TV looks. Picking the right one is an important first step in getting the most out of your TV.
Read: What's the best picture mode?

Calibrate your TV on the fly
Sometimes you don't have access to a setup disc but want to do a rough setup using the tools in your head. This guide should help you make your TV watchable.
Read: How to set a TV up by eye

Get rid of the 'soap opera effect'
You're watching a game, not daytime TV. If your new TV's ultrasmooth motion is driving you crazy, this is why and here's what you can do about it.
Read: What is the 'Soap Opera Effect'?