A mounting apparatus for positioning a television relative to a wall and a fireplace mantel includes a mounting plate coupled to a distal end of a positioning arm and is moved and positioned according to movement of the positioning arm. The positioning arm has a linear configuration with a proximal end mounted inside an inset wall housing which is itself mounted into a wall above the mantel of a fireplace. The positioning arm is pivotally movable between a retracted configuration completely inside the wall housing and a deployed configuration outside and extending away from the wall housing. The positioning arm includes gas springs and the mounting plate includes an adjustable bracket capable of mounting televisions having large VESA patterns.