In my travels as CEA’s Digital Answer Man I’m often asked for tips on buying a new TV. This is not surprising since buying a television in 2010 isn’t anything like it was just a few short years ago – way back in the 20^th century.

To be precise most of us don’t simply buy a TV any longer (and haven’t for a long time). We purchase a centerpiece to which we attach many other components to create a home entertainment and information system.

So where to start? Here are some good questions to ask before you start thinking specific models or brands. What do you and your family like to watch – movies, sports, prime time or a mix of all types? When do you watch TV most?  How do you get your TV – cable, satellite, fiber-optic phone line, over the air – or some combination of these? Do you have high-speed Internet and wireless setups? How big is the room where your new TV will be placed and how many other sets and what other components do you have already?

In one way, picking a TV has gotten even easier in the past year now that we don’t have analog sets to worry about anymore. Since June of ’09 all full-power TV broadcasts in the U.S. are digital and all sets sold are digital. But there’ll be an entire new array of technologies and options to consider in the coming years including 3-D TV, mobile DTV and the convergence of TV and the Internet.

Almost everyone now has cable or satellite boxes, DVD players, Digital Video Recorders (DVRs), video game consoles and other home video components and, perhaps, even free over-the-air broadcast HDTV. This means there’s more to the buying decision than just screen size and whether you prefer plasma or LCD. You’ll want to look at the back and sides (and front) for inputs and outputs for all those devices you’ll be connecting.

To get the full enjoyment from your new TV complement it with surround sound, making it the focus of your very own home theater. You may be surprised that you already have some of the components – home stereo with loudspeakers, DVD or Blu-ray player, cable or satellite box, home theater receiver or video game console. Happy shopping and don’t forget to check out CEA’s connection guide once you are ready for set-up.

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