Television

The Television is a buy mode object that has appeared in every game in The Sims series. A television is used primarily as a means to increase a Sim's fun, however, in The Sims 2 and The Sims 3 a television can also be used to improve some skills.

Different styles exist, but, in The Sims and The Sims 2, they all function the same. In The Sims 3 more expensive TVs or those upgraded with "Boost Channels" have more channels.
 * 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.

The Sims
Televisions in The Sims are rather simplistic, they can only be used to increase the fun and room (on expensive televisions) bar of a Sim and every television set is functionally identical to each other. Also, because of the way object graphics work in The Sims, each channel displays a set of static images rather than animated clips or video.

Monochrome TV
There's something to be said for watching TV and movies in Black and white. Who wants high definition, high fidelity and high costs when Sims can get a little entertainment at a low, low, low price!

Fun: 2

Required pack: None

Trottco 27" Color Television B94U
Whether you need a total distraction and some entertainment in the kitchen, the bedroom, or the family room, the B94U television set from Trottco is a solid choice. Auto-tuning. Channel Recall. Hair Filter. Sharpness. Three A/V Inputs visible. Static-Video Input. Audio Output. Permanent Channel Setting. Bass and Treble Sounds. TV Stand. Vents.

Fun: 4

Required pack: None

Soma Plasma TV
Perfect focus... Perfect image uniformity... Perfect entertainment. Soma Consumer Electronics takes the "plasma phenomenon" to a brave new level in this elegant technology statement. With it's incredible image quality, unique form and super thin, Flatuospective screen, the Soma Plasma TV is the undisputed leader in nanopixel technology.

Fun: 6

Room: 2

Required pack: None

Wall-Mounted TV
Originally envisioned as a revolution in the space-saving industry, the wall mounted TV is now a highly sought after commodity simply due to its massive "coolness" factor. It is estimated that households with this large wall-mounted TV are at least 3 times as cool as those without. So what are you waiting for? Be cool, and get one today.

Fun: 8

Room: 4

Required pack: Superstar

Channels
All the television sets included in The Sims base game are functionally identical, thus they all receive the same TV channels. These are:


 * Cartoons
 * Action
 * Romance
 * Horror

However, with the release of Superstar four new channels were added, and are only available on lots with a satellite dish. The new channels were:


 * Sports
 * News
 * Entertainment
 * Animals

Note:

 * Which channel(s) a Sim will enjoy the most depends on his or her personality. For example, a playful Sim will like watching cartoons, while a mean Sim will like watching horror.
 * Installing Superstar will update the base game televisions so that they can receive new channels. However, these channels may not be available on custom televisions, even if Superstar is installed.
 * In The Sims, Sims cannot build skills by watching or repairing televisions, nor can they work out in front of one.

The Sims 2
Televisions in The Sims 2 are slightly more complex then in The Sims, in addition to increasing a Sim's fun and room bar, they also allow Sims to improve some skills. Also, unlike in The Sims televisions actually use video and not just static images. However, just like in The Sims, television sets are still functionally identical to each other.

Trottco 27" MultuVid IV Television
Keep yourself entertained with this 27" television from Trottco. The picture-perfect tube broadcasts ReelColor images. Sonorous multi-channel audio charms, captivates, and dazzles any Sim. Comes with multiple A/V and gaming inputs. Who needs to go anywhere else when you've got Trottco?.

Fun: 8

Required pack: None

Channels
Base Game
 * 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. It appears to include the Pleasant family, although that is not their house. There is a show, probably meant to be a soap opera, set in a hospital, which shows doctors kissing and operating. There is a talk show, and what appears to be a Simmish version of "Survivor". News reports appear frequently, and include the sounds "Glarn", which may be the name of the reporter in the field, and "Sophie Kanarf", which may be the presenter's name. News reports include a fire, a political speech, and helicopter reporting over a city. The helicopter reports seem to show the destruction sequences from KidzTube. Watching this channel builds enthusiasm for the Film and Literature hobby.


 * KidzTube: Children's Channel for Kids. One of the programs shows a giant Servo from The Sims destroying a city from SimCity 4. Other programs shows a UFO destroying a city, and what appears to be a (would-be?) super team. Also, one program seems to feature the Social Bunny. Another is about a grouchy elderly man kicking garden gnomes and flamingos, in which the gnomes and flamingos seek—and apparently get—revenge, as the program finishes with an image of a gravestone. Watching this channel builds enthusiasm for the Film and Literature hobby.


 * SimStation Dance: Music Channel mainly for Teens. One of the programs is set in the empty lot in Strangetown, and a group of teens jumping with heavy metal music. Watching this channel builds enthusiasm for the Music and Dance hobby.


 * The Yummy Channel: Cooking channel mainly for Elders. Sims gain cooking skill from watching. Many of the shows feature the kitchens catching fire, and at least one shows a Sim burning to death. The logo for the Yummy Channel is an outline of a globe, topped by a chef's hat. Watching this channel builds enthusiasm for the Cuisine hobby.

University:
 * SimStation Sports Channel mainly for young adults. It uses the football news report from Sims Broadcasting Network. Watching this channel builds enthusiasm for the Sports hobby.

Pets:
 * No new channels, but some new SBN commercials which include pets.

Seasons:
 * The Weather Station: Gives a pop-up message forecasting the weather for the upcoming hours, although the weather man mostly utters something completely unrelated instead. Watching this channel builds enthusiasm for the Science hobby.
 * New commercials which show seasonal activities.

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

Note:

 * With Pets, cats may watch a television, and dogs may bark at one.
 * Sometimes, what appears to be a promo for a program on one channel will appear on another channel.
 * 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.

Channels
The number of channels depends on the television, for example the Old Timey Tele has 3 out of 7 channels, but the 36" HiFi Plasmondo TV from Landgraab Industries has all 7 channels. All channels use The Sims 2 game as the model.

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. There is also a ballerina and other characters all doing the smustle. They each get a close up.
 * Romantic Rendezvous: Shows a black and white romance movie and a wedding from part of the trailer for The Sims 2: Celebration! Stuff.
 * Sports Universe: Shows a sports commentary program about football and winter sports and a news reporter freezing to death.
 * Action World: Shows a superhero film (like the videoclip "Datarock - Fa Fa Fa" for The Sims 2 Free Time) and a movie about Jessica Knight (the trailer of The Sims Castaway Stories).
 * Terror TV: Shows a vampire movie and a stalker film (with a twist ending). Coward, Over-Emotional or Neurotic Sims will become scared for several hours if they watch this channel.
 * Cookin' Cable: Shows a parody of Iron Chef and a cooking show with a chef who's manner of speaking resembles the Swedish Chef. The chef could be a The Sims 2 version of Chet R. Chase
 * Got Garden: Shows a movie of a woman making flower bouquets and, later on, being eaten by a cowplant, it increases the Gardening skill, but however, it does not not seem to be relevant with any gardening plants.
 * Fishing Fracas: 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, however you can't buy anything.

Expansion Packs
High-End Loft Stuff

Two expensive new televisions: The FormFunk T-Object and the MedeaMedia Wall TV.

Late Night Two new televisions: Artscreen TV and Hang Anywhere Crystal TV

Expansion pack adds one more TV: Super-Stretch Television Experience. It can be acquired as celebrity gift or using buydebug cheat.

Outdoor Living Stuff

One new television: The Imperial Viewing Screen

Generations

Three new televisions: Retro-tastic TV, The Baronet's Fiefdom TV and The Glass SlipperVision Television

Showtime

One new television: Wallvuu XXXXL TV

Trivia

 * In The Sims 2, some channels such as the Sims Broadcasting Network use video clips from SimCity 4 as well as clips from The Sims 2, which all channels use.


 * In The Sims 3, the TVs use video clips from The Sims 2 for their channels (except for the exercise channel which uses The Sims 3, Halls of History, The Sims 2 and elements from SimCity Societies).
 * If the time is sped up and a television is on, the television won't speed up but go at normal speed instead.
 * In The Sims 3, all channels lack commercials.
 * The music for the Super Shopping Network channel is the same as the Geeky house theme in MySims.
 * In The Sims 2, users could place their own video clips in a special directory (much like custom Music) and these would play instead of the defult clips. Clips had to be in AVI format to work.
 * Many programs on the television in The Sims 2 and The Sims 3 show Easter eggs.