Won a new TV and TIVO 80 hour player with a six month subscription from work. Need help to get best pic I can.

Tv is a Sony kv-36hs420 which will replace a 5+ year old RCA 36" TV.

The picture on the new TV seems very grainy while watching cable. While watching a basketball game the floor of the court almost seemed to move. TV looks fine when watching a DVD. I have digital cable and from the cable box I am using a super video cord to the TIVO player and another super video cable to the TV.

Have not yet tried to hook cable directly to tv, to see if their is any improved picture quality.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Go into the menu, turn the brightness down about 75%. Leave it there for about a week, then get a calibration disc (or even the THX Optimode from Fight Club) and set the levels.

You don't need to turn down the brightness to 25% as indicated above but around 40-45% is safe. The most important setting is the contrast which should also be dropped into the 40-45% range until you can get AVIA: Guide to the Home Theater DVD or Video Essentials DVD. Most of the shimmering effect you see is caused by the contrast being to high and most likely it is at or near 100% which is the way it usually leaves the factory. Try to buy one of the DVD's I listed above soon so you can get the full enjoyment out of your new toy! The biggest problem with the contrast and brightness up to high is burn-in but if you calibrate the TV with a calibration DVD you will never have to worry about burn-in unless you massively abuse the TV with hours and hours of static images ont he screen.

Damn, that's a pretty nice little haul for a work prize.