Your membership has expired

The payment for your account couldn't be processed or you've canceled your account with us.

Re-activate
    FOOTBALL ON TV

    How to shop for and install a TV on game day

    Be an MVP and buy and set up your new TV in only 3 hours

    Published: January 16, 2015 05:05 PM

    Find Ratings

    January has been pigskin heaven for football fanatics. The College Football Playoff went off with a big bang—congratulations to the Ohio State Buckeyes—and several of the NFL playoff games have delivered the goods. With the Super Bowl coming up on Feb. 1 in Glendale, Arizona, and the TV bargains you'll find in stores, this is a great time to buy a new television.

    But can you buy transport, and set up a large TV in a hurry on the day of a big game? Consumer Reports set out to see whether with a minimum of planning and a hurry-up offense, you can bring home a big-screen TV with time to spare before the gridiron action begins.

    Step 1: Find the tape measure

    Are you sure you want that 60-inch TV? Before you run out to the store, be sure to get a sneak preview of what a set that size will actually look like in your den. (Remember, a typical 60-inch TV is 4.5 feet wide.) Check the specs online (ConsumerReports.org lists detailed dimensions), then cut out a piece of cardboard or paper to match the dimensions and have someone hold it up where you plan to place your set. Does it seem too large for the space? Or maybe too small? Keep in mind: Some sets have stands with feet at the very edges of the screen. Do you have the right furniture to support the TV you're interested in?

    Want to find the best spot to shop for a new TV? Visit our Ratings for best electronics stores.

    Step 2: Try to enlist a friend with a truck

    Don't put that tape measure away just yet. It's unlikely that you'll be able to arrange same-day delivery of a large-screen set on game day, so assume the transportation part of your TV odyssey is on you. You'll want to measure the cargo capacity of your vehicle and take into consideration the box, not just the set itself (although in a pinch, you can break down the box in the parking lot and wrap your TV in blankets—don't forget to take them). Not enough room in the trunk of your Toyota Corolla? If you can't call in a last-minute favor from a friend, try a local truck-rental agency—companies such as Budget and U-Haul rent trucks for daily use. For a more high-tech solution, ride-sharing companies such as Uber and Lyft offer on-demand chauffeured SUVs that can fit big sets.

    Step 3: Haggle your heart out

    Ordinarily, our advice to consumers is to walk away and try another store if you don't get the deal you want. But you don't have the luxury of time, so arrive at your local electronics shop armed with everything you need to negotiate on the fly. Big retailers such as Best Buy, Fry's, and Walmart will match prices you find online if you arrive with a printout. Even if you don't find a lower price, give haggling a try. A survey of more than 42,000 of our readers by the Consumer Reports National Research Center found that 69 percent of respondents who asked for a discount on a TV in a store got one, saving an average of $94. Now get home fast, but don't hit the gas too hard.

    Step 4: Unbox with a buddy

    TVs aren't as heavy as they used to be (even big-screen televisions rarely weigh more than 80 pounds). But it's an unwieldy weight, and you're going to want to recruit a friend to even get it out of the box. If you were planning to wall-mount your new flat screen, save that project for another day; your best bet is to get it attached to its stand and sitting securely on a piece of furniture before the game starts. Be careful moving the set around. To attach the stand, get the TV off the ground and lay it facedown on a soft, flat surface—the screws usually go in through the back of the set. Then gently lift the TV onto the furniture you've selected for game viewing. But don't push it against the wall yet—you have some cables to attach.

    Before you shop for a new TV, check out our list of the 10 best TV deals of the year.

    Step 5: Figure out which cable goes where

    We're assuming this isn't your first HDTV, so presumably you already have an HD-capable set-top box and HDMI cable from your previous set. Hook that into the back of your new big screen, and if you have a sound bar, we strongly suggest you hook that up, too. (Sound bars usually connect via HDMI, optical, or coaxial cables.) Sound is a big factor in football, and most sets can't do justice to punishing tackles the way a sound bar can.

    If you bought a smart TV, good for you. We appreciate the benefits that Internet connectivity brings to a television, but skip the setup for now—you can log in to wireless routers and fill in e-mail addresses later. But you should dig briefly into your new TV's picture settings. It may seem counter­intuitive, but skip the Sports mode and choose Movie or Cinema instead for the most natural-looking picture.

    Now tune in to the game—and don't forget to save a spot in the middle of the couch for the friend who helped you set up your TV. Many LCD and LED TVs have fairly narrow viewing angles, so viewers watching from directly in front of the screen, rather than off to the side, will see the best picture quality.

    Step 6: Crack open a cold one and enjoy!

    Treat yourself to a frosty beer (you deserve it) and put the nachos in the microwave. Congratulations. You beat the clock and got it done, with a few minutes to spare before kickoff!

    Editor's Note:

    This article also appeared in the February 2015 issue of Consumer Reports magazine.


    Find Ratings

    Televisions Ratings

    View and compare all Televisions ratings.

    E-mail Newsletters

    FREE e-mail Newsletters! Choose from cars, safety, health, and more!
    Already signed-up?
    Manage your newsletters here too.

    Electronics News

    Cars

    Cars Build & Buy Car Buying Service
    Save thousands off MSRP with upfront dealer pricing information and a transparent car buying experience.

    See your savings

    Mobile

    Mobile Get Ratings on the go and compare
    while you shop

    Learn more