My Collie loves sports, and watches the football, but what gets him the most is golf! He will watch it (he recognises the swing and the camera moving as the ball lands!) and then hunt round the back of the TV for the ball! It breaks my heart to tell him there's nothing there!
Apparently in America the screen pixel makeup is different so dogs over there can't really see it.
I've had 2 dogs that watched TV. My old rottie watched The Incredible Journey from start to finish mesmerised and my rottie pup watched 1 man and his dog and went around the back of the TV to find the sheep. Not coincidence, they were really watching. I've had other dogs who didn't though.