Sorry, I’m new and I’m sure this has been answered a bunch of times. But I am trying to learn and was having trouble finding an answer to this.
Can I connect my tv to a smartthings outlet, and use that to decide whether or not the smartthings motion sensor will turn the light on/off?
I want to use a motion sensor to turn the lights on/off in my bedroom, but not if the tv is on.
The first thing that comes to mind is something like this:
http://amzn.com/B007UZH7B8
You can tell if the switch has load (when the TV is on) and base your motion sensor actions from that.
Edit: I don’t own one so you may to search for how to know when to trigger or not.
Unless you have integration with something like harmony remote, there are a couple possibilities:
Use a smart outlet like this: http://www.amazon.com/Aeon-Labs-DSC06106-ZWUS-Z-Wave-Energy/dp/B007UZH7B8
It monitors power/energy usage, you can configure smartthings to assume that if current energy usage crosses some defined threshold that it must be the TV on. You can use this as a condition for your motion sensor.
Another possibility and probably the easiest is if your motion sensor has the ability to monitor Lux (brightness) in the room. The TV is bright (most of the time). You can use lux level as a condition for your motion activated lights. Things might get tricky during extended dark TV scenes however.
You should be able to tweak @bmmiller 's app to accomplish what @eibyer mentions ( he beat me to the reply 
)
Search for Rule Machine. In my set up, I am doing exactly what you are asking for.
Thanks for the ideas guys, I also have a Harmony Elite with the hub, so I have some playing around to do. I just got back with my Smatthings starter pack so I’m off to tinker. 
Same here! There are some tricks that you need to do to keep the outlet in sync with the remote. Let me know if you need to know how I set up mine. It took me a while to set it up.