Why do you want to do it? What are you planning to do about the audio? Are you going to put in surround sound? Do you plan to use the fireplace while the TV is running? Lots of questions here.

Here is a better picture

I am asking for my daughter and her fiancé. They just bought this house and the picture is from the current owner. Her fiancé wants the TV over the mantel.

I think the set up as shown in those photos is the best. I'd only mount a TV over the fireplace if I had no other options.

Check out some of the Home Theater forums. They universally oppose over-the-fireplace TVs.

That appears to be a direct vent fireplace, which means there is a framed chase behind the stone facing, and the chimney is probably running right up the middle of the chase. However, without knowing the design of the house its hard to tell how you would access the chase to run wiring. It might be visible from somewhere above or to the side, but it looks like that is an exterior wall. Does the framed chase for the fireplace and chimney project outside the wall?

Based on the room design I can understand why they think that is the best place for the TV, but putting it above the fireplace has a lot of tradeoffs. In addition to needing to keep fireplace heat away from the TV, that position on the wall puts it way to high for easy viewing from most couches.

Bruce

Thank you to those who responded. Your advice was very helpful. They have decided not to put the TV over the fireplace.