NFL Fans: Do Not Start the Game Until You Fix This TV Setting

The 2026 NFL season officially starts on Sept. 9, and if you have a favorite team, you're probably going to watch them on your TV . To keep the action fluid and not choppy, you'll want to turn on motion smoothing. Nearly every TV has this feature, which can make movies and shows look too fluid, like a soap opera (hence the term "soap opera effect" for overly smooth video). That's why I usually recommend you keep it turned off. However, you should turn it on if you plan to watch live sports . Here's everything you should know about it. And for instructions on how to turn it on and off, skip to 1:04 in the video below.

For more on motion smoothing and why it's actually good for sports, read on.

What Is Motion Smoothing?

Motion smoothing is a video-processing feature found in most TVs. It works by inserting new frames between existing frames in a video signal to make the image motion appear less jerky. These frames are interpolated, calculating halfway points and processing the picture to keep the video even and consistent (often in conjunction with patterns of backlight flickering to further enhance the effect). It works, but the result is an unnatural-looking video. It's often called the "soap opera effect," and it makes the movies and shows you're watching look like they're all recorded for daytime TV.

Film content is usually recorded at 24 frames per second, and TV content is usually kept at 30fps. Motion smoothing bumps those numbers up to 60, 120, or even (depending on the TV manufacturer) 960 with different tricks. Most content was created, edited, and mastered at 24 or 30 frames per second, so making it look smoother is extremely jarring. Hence, you should turn off motion smoothing if you're watching a TV show or movie. You can find the option in your TV's video settings ( check out this story  to find the setting for your TV brand, though the steps can vary slightly as manufacturers update their software).

Why Motion Smoothing Is Good for Sports

On the flip side, motion smoothing is a useful feature when you're watching live sports, especially those involving a ball that's passed, kicked, thrown, or shot. Due to how TVs create images, the camera movement wreaks havoc on the picture. You've probably noticed this if you've ever seen the video stutter as the picture pans across the field. This is precisely what motion smoothing fixes without adding more problems to the experience.

In addition, a sports feed may have images that move at 60 frames per second, depending on your cable provider. That means that the soap opera effect is less of an issue, as viewers want a more realistic image. Sports aren't quite the mastered, artistic vision of a movie or TV show, after all. Just remember to turn motion smoothing off again before you watch anything else.

How to Fix Common TV Issues

If you have other TV problems, these  easy fixes  will help you get your picture straight, bright, and untinted. And if you're curious about our TV reviewing process, check out  how we test TVs .

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