Television

The Television is a buy mode object. The video game system is compatible with any TV set, if placed close enough.

Different styles exist, but they all function the same.
 * Motives: Watching television increases a Sim's Fun motive. Sitting in front of the television allows a Sim to also regain Comfort. Several Sims can watch television together and improve their relationship while gaining Social.

(Note: In The Sims, Sims cannot build skills by watching or repairing televisions, nor can they work out in front of one.)
 * Skills: A Sim can use a television to "Work Out" if there is sufficient space in front of the set. Watching the cooking channel increases the cooking skill. Repairing a television set will increase the mechanical/handiness skill but there is a chance of electrocution as with all electronic devices.


 * Hobbies: With FreeTime the television can be used to build enthusiasm in the Cuisine, Sports, Film and Literature, Music and Dance, Science, Tinkering, and Fitness hobbies. With a video game system it can also build Games enthusiasm.

The Sims

 * Cartoons
 * Action
 * Romance
 * Horror
 * Superstar: (available only with a satellite dish)
 * Sports
 * News
 * Entertainment
 * Animals

The Sims 2

 * Sims Broadcasting Network (SBN): Local Channel mainly for Adults. One of the programs is set in 113 Wright Way in Pleasantview, or at least uses an exterior shot of it.
 * KidzTube: Children's Channel for Kids. One of the programs shows a giant robot destroying a city, possibly from SimCity 4. Another program shows a UFO destroying a city.
 * SimStation Dance: Music Channel mainly for Teens. One of the programs is set in the empty lot in Strangetown
 * The Yummy Channel: Cooking channel mainly for Elders. Sims gain cooking skill from watching. Many of the shows feature the kitchens catching fire.

University:
 * SimStation Sports Channel mainly for Young Adults

Seasons:
 * The Weather Station: Gives a pop-up message forecasting the weather for the upcoming hours, although sometimes the weatherman is in a funny mood and will utter something completely unrelated instead...

FreeTime:
 * No new TV channels per se but a new movies on-demand service.

Ikea Home Stuff:
 * With Ikea: Home Stuff comes the cubby TV, and with the cubby TV comes two new commercials and one new mini program: one commercial for the colonial shower/bath, another pizza commercial featuring the Pleasant family, and a mini program featuring a man getting abducted by aliens.

The Sims 3
The number of channels depends on the television, for example if you have the Old Timey Tele you have 3/7 channels, but if you have the 36" HiFi Plasmondo TV from Landgraab Industries you have 7/7 channels.

Basic (Old Timey Tele) Basic Plus (Channel Troller 27" Deluxe TV) Premium (ÜberVison Panoramic from Landgraab Industries) High Definition (36" HiFi Plasmondo TV from Landgraab Industries / WallVuu Standard TV / PlasmaTron TV and the Super Sim Television DLX (The Sims 3 Store))
 * KidZ Zone: Shows a show featuring costumed characters like the Social Bunny and rival university mascot playing.
 * Romantic Rendezvous: Shows a wedding and a black and white romance movie.
 * Sports Universe: Shows a sports commentary program about football and winter sports, possibly snowboarding.
 * Terror TV: Shows a vampire movie and a stalker film (with a twist ending). Cowardly or Over-Emotional Sims will become scared for several hours if they watch this channel.
 * Action World: Shows a superhero film and a movie about a woman marooned on an island.
 * Cookin' Cable: Shows a parody of Iron Chef and a cooking show with a chef who's manner of speaking resembles the Swedish Chef.
 * Got Garden: Shows a movie of a woman making flower bouquets and, later on,A being eaten by a cowplant.
 * Fracas Fishing: Shows a duo of fishermen (one clearly better than the other) fishing in a lake in a forest.
 * Halls of History: Shows a variety of elderly sims discussing an authoritarian society from |SimCity Societies.
 * Super Shopping Network: A shopping channel where a variety of products are sold.