TV Tips for Super Bowl XLIII

TV Tips for Super Bowl XLIII

As tempting as a February trip to Tampa for Super Bowl XLIII may be, a pair of tickets will run up to $4300, so we’re betting you’ll be watching from home like the rest of us. Make the most of it with 10 quick and simple ways to adjust your digital TV and accessories for the best viewing experience possible. Better than being there? You be the judge.

Most of the settings required to program the TV are found using the on-screen display accessed from the remote control. Press the Menu button and look for Picture or similar terminology. Adjustments will be made to the contrast, brightness, sharpness, color saturation and hue to produce the best picture for the game.

1. Practice: The best way to get the settings right is to do it before the big game. Use a playoff game or better yet, an NFL replay. Practice makes perfect.
2. Adjust Contrast: Determine the brightness of the white parts of the screen and control overall brightness. The factory settings are typically too high (usually near the maximum). Lower the setting to about halfway and then adjust the contrast from there, focusing on the lightest areas.
3. Adjust Brightness: Give depth to the blacks on the screen. Lower the brightness until the blacks are true, while still distinguishing details in the darker parts of the field. A night game is ideal for this adjustment.
4. Sharpness: Leave this one alone if you have an HDTV. Otherwise, adjust to clean up the fine detail. Turn down the sharpness if there is a halo around the players. Turn it up if players appear blurry.
5. Adjust Color: If the jersey numbers are difficult to read, the color may be turned up too high. A high color setting causes colors to bleed together and appear faded. Turn the color down.
6. Adjust Hue: Hue determines skin tones, so take advantage of pregame or halftime close-ups. If announcers look sunburned, reduce the hue setting; if they look green, increase the hue setting.
7. Choose a Default Setting: In a pinch, select Cinema from the typical three to five picture mode settings available. You can still make fine adjustments if the clock hasn’t started.
8. In addition to picture setting adjustments, the following tips will give you an even better big game experience.
9. Separate the Speakers: If you have home theater speakers, place them as far apart as possible to get the full benefits of the Super Bowl surround sound broadcast. No speakers? Consider this purchase, nothing will do more to replicate the onsite game experience than surround sound speakers.
10. Play the Second String: Consider setting up additional TVs in the kitchen and bathroom to make sure you and your guests do not miss a minute of the game.
11. TIVO: Super Bowl commercials are often more buzzworthy than the game. Use TIVO to record the ads, pick your favorites and contribute to the Monday morning office poll.

Follow these tips and enjoy a maximum game experience and a better picture from your TV all year long.

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