Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
5 Keys to Picture-Perfect TV Buying for Super Bowl
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 6 years ago on
January 29, 2019

Share

Buying a TV can be thrilling, yet daunting.
To maximize the exhilaration — while minimizing the uncertainty — experts say to pay attention to at least five things.
You may be considering a new TV ahead of the Super Bowl, but these tips work throughout the year, too.

Size

Size alone shouldn’t be the deciding factor, but it will be a large part of your decision — both literally and figuratively.
“I always tell people to buy the biggest screen that they can afford and that will fit in their room,” says Tim Alessi, the director of product marketing at LG Electronics. “Because I’ve never met anybody yet who has said, ‘Oh darn. I wish I bought a smaller TV.'”
The opposite is often true: Consumers bring a TV home and wish they had gone larger. Alessi notes screens 70 inches and above are a huge growth category in the TV industry right now.
Think about where you want to put your TV and what size will fit. Online, many retailers allow you to filter your search according to criteria like screen size and brand.

Budget

But you need room for that big TV in your budget. Thankfully, the period leading up to the Super Bowl is a time for all-star deals.
“A 70-inch TV, for example, we’ll have on the market leading up to the Super Bowl at under $1,000,” Alessi says.
Last year, TVs were on sale at Amazon, Best Buy, Costco and Target at the end of January, but
TV sales also happen throughout the year. For example, Black Friday in November is famed for big discounts on all screens.
But there will be other things to account for in your budget, like accessories and installation, so don’t commit to a dollar figure just yet.

Connectivity and Color

Once you’ve narrowed the selection, think about what you want it to do. If you’re upgrading for the first time in years, compare the latest innovations to see which ones match your viewing habits.
“Typically in the U.S., consumers hold onto a television for about five to seven years,” says Rob Brennan, the product technology manager for home entertainment and sound at Sony Electronics.
“If you’re coming into the market now for a new TV before the Super Bowl, the last time you bought a television was sometime in 2013 or 2014. A lot has changed in that window.”
Ask yourself questions about things like the TV’s smart capability. Do you want a TV that can tell your Roomba to start cleaning?
And as for the all-important decision of LCD versus OLED, here’s a quick cheat sheet from Brennan. For the most part, LCD (which has an LED backlight) works well in bright rooms, while OLED suits dark environments dedicated to TV viewing.

Accessories

Next, make sure you have any extra equipment you’ll need.
Sound is an especially important consideration. You could use the TV’s sound as is, but you may consider buying a sound bar or audio/video receiver separately to enhance the sound, according to Michael Greco, senior director of global brand management at Sound United.
If you do, remember to read the “What’s in the box” packaging. (I can’t be the only person who ordered a TV without the necessary cables to hook it up.)
“I would always double-check what’s in the box and make sure you have the right cables in the box,” says Greco. “If not, you’ll need to buy them at the time you buy your TV or your audio equipment.”

Ideal Installation

Finally, make a plan to get that fancy new screen home. Particularly for wall mounting, as opposed to a TV stand, consider springing for professional delivery and installation.
“When you shop for the TV, a lot of retailers will offer either specials or free installation depending on where you are, so I would take advantage of that,” Alessi says.
Ask about installation warranties, too. These can give you peace of mind you won’t get if you hang it yourself.
“If the television were to come off the wall, then the installer typically will guarantee their work,” Brennan says.
If you need the TV on short notice, check how quickly delivery and installation is available.
And once the work of buying is done, rest easy and enjoy those Super Bowl commercials; you likely won’t have to go through this process again for five to seven years.

This column was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet.

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Markets Plunge With S&P 500 Down 6% and Dow Down 2,200 After China Retaliates

DON'T MISS

Fresno Police Searching for Missing 12-Year-Old Girl

DON'T MISS

Madera Community College Unveils New Multicultural and Veterans Center

DON'T MISS

Fusion Energy Race Is On. Two Local Lawmakers Want California to Lead the Way

DON'T MISS

Saturday’s Spring Fest to Showcase Free, Low-Cost Activities for Fresno Kids

DON'T MISS

LA County Reaches $4 Billion Agreement to Settle Sexual Abuse Claims at Juvenile Facilities

DON'T MISS

Fresno Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Deadly Marijuana DUI Crash

DON'T MISS

Judge Says US Must Return Maryland Man Who Was Mistakenly Deported to El Salvador Prison

DON'T MISS

These Fresno First-Graders Are Topping Their Peers in Reading

DON'T MISS

Fresno Burial Ceremony to Honor Five Abandoned Babies Set for Saturday

UP NEXT

After Briefly Disappearing, TikTok Went Back to Normal. Or Did It?

UP NEXT

The ‘Six’ Wives of King Henry VIII Sing Their Hearts Out in Fresno

UP NEXT

Val Kilmer, ‘Top Gun’ and Batman Star With an Intense Approach, Dies at 65

UP NEXT

Anjelah Johnson-Reyes to Headline Chukchansi’s Summer Series with ‘Family Reunion Tour’

UP NEXT

Gronk-a-Mania Set to Run Wild Over WrestleMania Weekend

UP NEXT

Head of Amazon’s TV and Film Steps Down

UP NEXT

Prosecutor Seeks 18-Month Suspended Sentence for Depardieu if Convicted of Sexual Assault

UP NEXT

Plant-Based Eating in Middle Age Linked to Healthier Senior Years

UP NEXT

Woman Accuses Actor Gérard Depardieu of Sexual Assault on Film Set

UP NEXT

Topgolf Coming to the Central Valley? Chukchansi Gold to Open First Swing Suite

Fusion Energy Race Is On. Two Local Lawmakers Want California to Lead the Way

25 minutes ago

Saturday’s Spring Fest to Showcase Free, Low-Cost Activities for Fresno Kids

1 hour ago

LA County Reaches $4 Billion Agreement to Settle Sexual Abuse Claims at Juvenile Facilities

2 hours ago

Fresno Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Deadly Marijuana DUI Crash

2 hours ago

Judge Says US Must Return Maryland Man Who Was Mistakenly Deported to El Salvador Prison

2 hours ago

These Fresno First-Graders Are Topping Their Peers in Reading

3 hours ago

Fresno Burial Ceremony to Honor Five Abandoned Babies Set for Saturday

3 hours ago

Visalia Man Arrested for Soliciting Sex From Minor in Kingsburg

3 hours ago

Camalah Saleh Cruises to Win in Stormy Fresno State Student Elections

5 hours ago

Trump Goes Golfing While Stock Market Chunks

5 hours ago

Markets Plunge With S&P 500 Down 6% and Dow Down 2,200 After China Retaliates

NEW YORK — Wall Street’s worst crisis since COVID slammed into a higher gear Friday. The S&P 500 lost 6% after China matched President D...

58 seconds ago

Specialist Anthony Matesic works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Friday, April 4, 2025. (AP/Richard Drew)
59 seconds ago

Markets Plunge With S&P 500 Down 6% and Dow Down 2,200 After China Retaliates

Fresno police are searching for Unique Hernandez, 12, last seen on Friday, April 4, 2025, near Inyo Street and Maple Avenue, wearing all black clothing and carrying a black backpack. (Fresno PD)
10 minutes ago

Fresno Police Searching for Missing 12-Year-Old Girl

23 minutes ago

Madera Community College Unveils New Multicultural and Veterans Center

25 minutes ago

Fusion Energy Race Is On. Two Local Lawmakers Want California to Lead the Way

1 hour ago

Saturday’s Spring Fest to Showcase Free, Low-Cost Activities for Fresno Kids

2 hours ago

LA County Reaches $4 Billion Agreement to Settle Sexual Abuse Claims at Juvenile Facilities

2 hours ago

Fresno Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Deadly Marijuana DUI Crash

2 hours ago

Judge Says US Must Return Maryland Man Who Was Mistakenly Deported to El Salvador Prison

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend