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HOW TO HOST THE ULTIMATE FOOTY FRENZY

It’s that time of year again! Spring is in the air and that means footy finals are on the horizon, culminating in the big day when premiership cups are triumphantly hoisted aloft. It’s also the perfect time to get set up with a big screen 4K smart TV to enjoy all the action, or upsize the match to the next level with a projector. Words Scott Hocking T he AFL Grand Final kicks off this year on Saturday, 24 September, with the NRL following on Sunday, October 2, but there’s plenty of finals footy in the meantime. Selected AFL and NRL matches are now offer an excellent view from any angle if you’re seated on the outer. High refresh rate THE BIG GAME

Light it up Add a touch of stadium atmosphere by setting smart lighting to flash in sync with your club’s song, react to the roar of the crowd, and proudly glow in your team colours. Take it outdoors If it’s a night game, why not watch it in the backyard or on the deck with a portable projector? Not only will you get an

immersive big screen experience, you can

tend the barbie without missing any of the action,

and kick-to-kick on the lawn at half time. It’s a win, win, win!

Don’t miss a thing You can play the perfect host and still ensure that you – and your guests – will stay connected to the game at all times. For constant coverage, use a smart home hub assistant to stream the match in a heavy traffic area like the kitchen, and position a smart speaker in the bathroom. A good feed and a great time Perhaps most importantly, make sure that the barbie is sizzling hot and the esky or bar fridge fully stocked. “GO [insert team name here]!”

This can mean the amount of beverages consumed during the game, but in this case it refers to a TV or projector’s ability to keep up with the fast moving action on the field, eliminating blur or judder and maintaining silky-smooth motion. Look for a set with a native refresh rate of 100Hz and above, which means that the onscreen image refreshes 100 times per second for optimal fluidity. Sport smart Many 4K smart TVs come preloaded with dedicated sports streaming apps like Kayo, and if they don’t, you can always download and add them to the UI menu bar. Moreover, LG’s 2022 TVs include a Sports Alert feature that lets you keep track of news and updates on teams and leagues, plus receive match reminders and real time updates for the big games – even while you’re watching something else. There are also customisable picture-in-picture and split screen modes, as well as device mirroring and casting to further enhance the game, where supported.

available to watch in stunning 4K on supported streaming services, and with the increased resolution of Ultra HD, every blade of grass will stand out in fine detail, umpiring decisions will be even more contentious, and those team colours will really pop! And adding a soundbar will enhance the roar of the crowd. JB has some winning visual tech to create an immersive stadium-like atmosphere at home, and we’ve compiled some important pointers to get you match ready and ensure that you get the very best from your big screen sports experience. Premium seating Watching the game from a prime position is just as important at home as it is at a stadium, and many of today’s 4K smart TVs feature a wide viewing angle to make every seat the best one in the house. That means that wherever you’re sitting in the room, the picture won’t lose the vivid colours and accurate contrast you get when positioned central to the screen. Be sure to check the TV you’re considering has one. OLEDTVs are renowned for their extremely wide viewing angles, but Mini LEDTVs also

58 SEPTEMBER 2022

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