Some would say that TV has taken something away from the family. It competes for attention and time that would otherwise be spent on each other, critics say. In moderation, however, good TV is something that can bring a family together rather than keep it apart. The teenage years can be especially stressful for the relationship between parents and children, but the endlessly diverse selection of programs available from satellite television make it easier than ever to find something parents and children can agree on, and enjoy together.

While sports is often seen as the bachelor's domain, plenty of families come together to support the home team. Let the kids invite friends, make sure to have pizza, and you'll have no trouble getting them to spend time with you. If you've recently moved or have family affiliations to an out-of-town team, look to NFL Sunday Ticket to help you stay in touch with that favorite team, wherever you are.

Starz Kids and Family has a great collection of old classics and new favorites especially picked for an audience of kids big and small.

HBO Family provides a rich selection of movies without R ratings. The great thing about HBO and other premium channels is that they are commercial free.

Disney never goes out of style, and brings the full force of its movie and television collection to your home theater on one great channel. Disney classics are something everyone can agree on.

Learning Channel lets you take a family television break without worrying about "brain drain." Every program on Learning Channel is chock-full of fantastic trivia and mind-opening exploration that will not only keep everyone entertained, but educated as well.

National Geographic Channel lets the family take a vacation that includes all of the fantastic sights with none of the stress. From the epic icefields of Antarctica to the lively plains of Africa to the murky depths of the Pacific, National Geographic's stunning imagery is a treat for all ages, especially if viewed with the crispness of high definition.

The Hallmark Channel offers shows and movies that are appropriate and entertaining. Moreover, the programming on this channel deals with themes to which families can relate.

Take your family back to a time when television was innocent and show your kids what you enjoyed watching when you were a kid with TV Land's nostalgic lineup of yesteryear's favorites. Even comes complete with fun "retromercials!"

Create a family project and let everyone weight in on travel ideas. Get together and choose from the fantastic destinations on The Travel Channel.

Take advantage of programming from The Biography Channel to share your heroes' stories with the kids, and to learn about theirs.

Making the most of television is easier than ever with the wide range of programs available on satellite tv, but it still takes work. Do your research and get creative to find programs that not only bring the family together, but get you talking and thinking together as well. Whether it's the Wizard of Oz in HD, a special on extreme sports in Australia, or a show about cooking in Thailand, exciting television should be a family event instead of an individual's distraction.