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.

• 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.

(Note: 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.

Channels

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.

A Sim watching "Kidz Tube"

Television Game All Buyable Yes Price §500-§8,000 Type Skills, Needs Size 1x1, 1x2, wall/ceiling 1x1, wallx2

• 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)

• 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.

Basic Plus (Channel Troller 27" Deluxe TV)

• 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.

Premium (ÜberVison Panoramic from Landgraab Industries)

• 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 Societies.

High Definition (36" HiFi Plasmondo TV from Landgraab Industries / WallVuu Standard TV / PlasmaTron TV and the Super Sim Television DLX (The Sims 3 Store))

• Super Shopping Network: A shopping channel where a variety of products are sold.