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, in The Sims and The Sims 2, they all function the same. In The Sims 3 more expensive TVs or TVs 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.


 * 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, and, in The Sims 3 Sims can also learn recipes. Repairing a television set will increase the mechanical/handiness skill but there is a chance of electrocution as with all electronic devices.

In The Sims, Sims cannot build skills by watching or repairing televisions, nor can they work out in front of one.
 * 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

These channels were included in Superstar, and are only available on lots with a satellite dish:
 * Sports
 * News
 * Entertainment
 * Animals

Which channel(s) a Sim will enjoy the most depends on the his or her personality. For example, a playful Sim will like watching cartoons, while a mean Sim will like watching horror.

The Sims 2
Sometimes, what appears to be a promo for a program on one channel will appear on another channel.


 * 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, though 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 reports over a city. The helicopter reports seem to show the destruction sequences from KidzTube.


 * KidzTube: Children's Channel for Kids. One of the programs shows a giant robot 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.


 * SimStation Dance: Music Channel mainly for Teens. One of the programs is set in the empty lot in Strangetown.
 * If FreeTime is installed, 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.
 * If FreeTime is installed, 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.
 * If FreeTime is installed, watching this channel builds enthusiasm for the Sports hobby.

Nightlife
 * No new channels, but a car commercial is added.

Pets:
 * No new channels, but some new SBN programming which includes pets.

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...
 * If FreeTime is installed, watching this channel builds enthusiasm for the Science hobby.
 * New programming which involves activities such as gardening, skating, and playing in snow.

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

IKEA Home Stuff:
 * A cubby TV is included with IKEA Home Stuff. It includes a new commercial for the Colonial shower/bath, another pizza commercial featuring the Pleasant family, and a new mini program featuring a man getting abducted by aliens.

The Sims 3
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.

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, Over-Emotional or Neurotic Sims will become scared for several hours if they watch this channel.
 * Action World: Shows a superhero film (like the videoclip "Datarock - Fa Fa Fa" for The Sims 2 Free Time) and a movie about a woman marooned on an island (the trailer of The Sims Castaway Stories).
 * 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.
 * 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.

High-End Loft Stuff
The High-End Loft Stuff expansion introduces two expensive new televisions: The FormFunk T-Object and the MedeaMedia Wall TV.

Late Night

Late Night expansion pack adds one new television. It can be accquired as celebrity gift or using buydebug cheat.

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).