Findings on Sims TV channels (Interest thread)

Ok, worked hard on a TV overview, but it got deleted without any notification. I guess it was too long or something. It's not a great feeling...

Anyway, here's some fun TV channel facts:

• Different ages prefer different TV channels. List coming someday, I hope!
• Toddlers get a special moodlet after watching ScareMax channel. Afterwards, they have much higher chance of having a nightmare.
• ScareMax channel will make sims run away sometimes.
• Horse Lover trait gives special Moodlet when watching Horse Ranch TV channels.
• Moodlets from Dream Home Decorator channel will last longer for Creative sims.
• If your sim is in Interior Decorator career, after the job, the tooltip may say to watch either Ace of Space (good) or Failures 'N' Flops (bad) shows.
• Sitcom channel gives a stronger moodlet when sims are watching with their family.
• Watching Public Civic Access channel at 11 PM to 6 AM will give your sim a special Playful moodlet.
• Simply having a satellite dish (Scientist invention) will unlock you a new channel.
• Watching Weather Forecast channel for too long gives your sim an ability to talk about climate change.
• Kids Channel and Brainchild Learning channels shouldn't give non-Childish adults bored moodlet when they're watching with their children.
• Having a Family Bulletin Board from Parenthood makes sims watch Kids Channel more.

Ah well, perhaps the post was too long anyway. I can share that in the new The Sims Forums if I eventually remember...

I am sorry that you had an issue when posting your tv overview @EgonVM 

It was great to read what you wrote about the tv channels. It is very helpful. 

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@EgonVM wrote:

So, TV channels... That was a lot of files to look into...

But hey, I'll lay out the findings.

First, each channel is preferred by certain sims. Usually, it's only by age (child to elder), but few also draw in sims with certain traits. Here's a list of what channel is preferred by which sims (+ for prefers, - for opposite):

Spoiler

• Action
  • Child ++
  • Teen ++
  • Young Adult +
  • Elder -
• Cooking Channel
  • Child -
  • Teen -
• Comedy
  • Teen ++
  • Child +
  • Young Adult +
• Romance
  • Teen ++
  • Young Adult +
  • Adult +
  • Child -
• News
  • Elder ++
  • Snob trait +
  • Teen -
  • Child -
• Sports
  • Teen +
  • Young Adult +
• Kids Network
  • Child ++
  • Childish trait +
  • Adult -
  • Elder -
• Fireplace Channel
  • Elder ++
  • Child -
  • Teen -
  • Young Adult -
  • Adult -
• Music TV
  • Teen +
  • Young Adult +
• Alien Channel (!#*%&$@%) (Get to Work)
  • Same neutral 1 for every age.
• BEtween TV (Kids Room Stuff)
  • Child ++
  • Teen +
  • Adult -
  • Elder -
• Civic Public Access (City Living)
  • Teen +
  • Young Adult +
• PolitiSim (City Living)
  • Young Adult +
  • Adult + (though stronger than Young Adult's)
  • Elder ++
  • Child -
• World Culture Network (City Living)
  • Child -
  • Teen -
• TV Classics (Vintage Glamour Stuff)
  • No special modifiers at all.
• Weather Forecast (Seasons)
  • Elder ++
  • Adult +
  • Teen -
  • Child -
• Holiday Countdown (Seasons)
  • No special modifiers at all.
• Dream Home Decorator Network (Dream Home Decorator)
  • Creative trait +
  • Teen -
  • Child -
• Brainchild Learning (Growing Together)
  • Child ++
  • Teen -
  • Young Adult -
  • Adult -
• Sitcom Central (Growing Together)
  • Young Adult +
  • Adult +
  • Elder +
• ScareMax (Growing Together)
  • Teen +
  • Young Adult +
  • Child -
• Pony Up Kids Channel (Horse Ranch)
  • Child ++
  • Horse Lover trait +
  • Teen + (weaker than Horse Lover trait)
  • Adult -
  • Elder -
• Wild West Channel (Horse Ranch)
  • Horse Lover trait +

Secondly, let's go over what each channel does.

Spoiler

All traits satisfy Lazy trait autonomy.

Channels are not autonomously watched by werewolves with Sensitive Hearing temperament and when a movie is playing.

They add progress to Indoorsy, Sedentary, and Techie lifestyles while taking away from Adrenaline Seeker lifestyle.

• Action
  • Nothing special, only for fun and special animations
  • Not autonomously watched by Sad sims.
• Cooking Channel
  • Slowly builds Homestyle Cooking skill.
  • Satisfies Foodie trait autonomy.
• Comedy
  • Slowly builds Comedy skill.
  • Gives +1 Playful Moodlet "Hilarious Show" for 3 hours.
    
    Spoiler

    Playful +1
    Hilarious Show
    (From Watching TV)
    
    This comedy channel is hilarious!
    
    3 hours
  • Not autonomously watched by Angry and Sad sims.
• Romance
  • Gives +1 Flirty Moodlet "Watched Romantic Comedy" for 3 hours.
    
    Spoiler

    Flirty +1
    Watched Romantic Comedy
    (From Watching TV)
    
    The flirtatious inclinations are strong after viewing that steamy romance!
    
    3 hours
  • Adds progress to Hungry for Love lifestyle.
  • Satisfies Romantic trait autonomy.
  • Not autonomously watched by Angry sims.
• News
  • Gives a special Happy moodlet for Snob sims (they dislike other channels):
    
    Spoiler

    Happy +1
    Classy Content
    (From Snob Trait)
    
    Snobs appreciate television programming that doesn't rot the brain.
    
    3 hours
• Sports
  • Gives a special Confident moodlet for Bro sims.
    
    Spoiler

    Confident +1
    Sports Rule!
    (From Watching TV)
    
    Watched other bros being awesome on the sports channel.
    
    4 hours
  • Satisfies Bro trait autonomy.
  • Not autonomously watched by Sad sims.
• Kids Network
  • Gives "Pirates and Pineapples!" Playful Moodlet for child sims.
    
    Spoiler

    Playful +1
    Pirates and Pineapples!
    (From Watching TV)
    
    Exploring time with everyone's favorite wacky cartoon crew!
    
    3 hours
  • Gives "Kid Stuff..." Bored Moodlet for older sims not watching together with their child.
    
    Spoiler

    Bored +1
    Kid Stuff...
    (From Watching TV)
    
    Some of them wear pants, but others don't. What's going on there?
    
    3 hours
  • Gives "Childish Viewing" Happy Moodlet for sims with Childish trait.
    
    Spoiler

    Happy +2
    Childish Viewing
    (From Watching TV)
    
    Shows on the kid's channel are always better than that serious stuff.
    
    3 hours
  • Satisfies Childish trait autonomy.
  • Autonomously watched more with Family Bulletin Board on lot.
• Fireplace Channel
  
  • Can only be watched during winter or when the TV is upgraded.
  • Gives "Feeling the Heat" Happy Moodlet when watched at winter. This will warm the sim up.
    
    Spoiler

    Happy +1
    Feeling the Heat
    (From Watching TV)
    
    The digital flames look so real that [Sim Name] is instantly warm!
    
    3 hours
• Music TV
  • Can only be watched on an upgraded TV.
  • Slowly builds Guitar skill.
  • Sims with Music Lover trait have slightly more fun.
• Alien Channel (!#*%&$@%) (Get to Work)
  • Requires a Satellite Dish on the lot (Scientist invention)
  • Can give one of two Moodlets to aliens watching:
    • "Reminded of Home" Happy Moodlet
      
      Spoiler

      Happy +1
      Reminded of Home
      (From Watching Images of Home)
      
      Looking at home through rose colored glasses.
      
      4 hours
    • "Feeling Homesick" Sad Moodlet
      
      Spoiler

      Sad +1
      Feeling Homesick
      (From Watching Images of Home)
      
      The fond memories of a home cooked meal, hanging out with friends, and not having to wear this disguise. Feeling homesick is terrible.
      
      4 hours
• BEtween TV (Kids Room Stuff)
  • Gives "Watched BEtween TV" Happy Moodlet to sims watching (children and Childish sims are supposed to get it though).
    
    Spoiler

    Happy +1
    Watched BEtween TV
    (From Watching TV)
    
    Too mature for kids, too cool for adults. Just right for [Sim Name]... BEtween!
    
    3 hours
  • Satisfies Childish trait autonomy.
• Civic Public Access (City Living)
  • Gives "Public Access Weirdness" Playful Moodlet when watched between 11 PM and 6 AM.
    
    Spoiler

    Playful +1
    Public Access Weirdness
    (From Watching TV)
    
    Was that a guy in a bear suit giving a speech about the benefits of pescatarianism?
    
    3 hours
• PolitiSim (City Living)
  • Nothing special it seems...
• World Culture Network (City Living)
  • Nothing special it seems...
• TV Classics (Vintage Glamour Stuff)
  • Nothing special it seems...
• Weather Forecast (Seasons)
  • Watching the channel for too long makes the sim Climate Change Woke (allows talking about climate change) and gives them "Climate Change is Real!" Tense Moodlet for the first time.
    
    Spoiler

    Tense +1
    Climate Change is Real!
    (From Watching Weather Television)
    
    Let's talk about Climate Change, shall we?
    
    3 hours
• Holiday Countdown (Seasons)
  • By default on New Year's Eve holiday.
  • Required to watch at 11 PM to complete tradition.
    • Can be sabotaged during that time.
• Dream Home Decorator Network (Dream Home Decorator)
  • Slowly builds Handiness skill.
  • If your sim is in Interior Decorator career, the tooltip can change depending on how the last job went:
    • Good: Watch Ace of Space on Dream Home Decorator
    • Bad: Watch Failures 'N' Flops on Dream Home Decorator Network
  • Gives a Confident Moodlet to sims in Interior Decorator career:
    • If they're Creative:
      
      Spoiler

      Confident +1
      A Home Decorating Show!
      (From Watching TV)
      
      I see what they were trying to do. I know that I can do that!
      
      4 hours
    • If they're not Creative:
      
      Spoiler

      Confident +1
      A Home Decorating Show!
      (From Watching TV)
      
      That was an interesting home makeover. I'll bet I can do even better!
      
      2 hours
  • Gives an Inspired Moodlet to other sims.
    
    • If they're Creative:
      
      Spoiler

      Inspired +1
      A Home Decorating Show!
      (From Watching TV)
      
      I never considered that room arrangement. I have so many new ideas I want to try now!
      
      4 hours
    • If they're not Creative:
      
      Spoiler

      Inspired +1
      A Home Decorating Show!
      (From Watching TV)
      
      What a beautiful room. I want to try it!
      
      2 hours
• Brainchild Learning (Growing Together)
  • Slowly builds child's Mental skill.
  • Gives "Screen Smarts" Focused trait to child sims.
    
    Spoiler

    Focused +1
    Screen Smarts
    (From Watching TV)
    
    Entertainment and education all happening in perfect harmony has helped sharpen [Sim Name]'s mind!
    
    3 hours
  • Gives "Teaching to the Choir" Bored trait to older sims not watching it with their children.
    
    Spoiler

    Bored +1
    Teaching to the Choir
    (From Watching TV)
    
    [Sim Name] already learned all of this stuff as a child!
    
    3 hours
  • Gives "Childish Viewing" Happy Moodlet for sims with Childish trait.
    
    Spoiler

    Happy +2
    Childish Viewing
    (From Watching TV)
    
    Shows on the kid's channel are always better than that serious stuff.
    
    3 hours
  • Satisfies Childish trait autonomy.
• Sitcom Central (Growing Together)
  • Gives "Laughing Along" Playful Moodlet to sims.
    
    Spoiler

    Playful +1
    Laughing Along
    (From Watching TV)
    
    It's hard not to laugh along when a show has a laugh track!
    
    3 hours
  • Gives "Laughing Along Together" Playful Moodlet to sims watching with their family members.
    
    Spoiler

    Playful +2
    Laughing Along Together
    (From Watching TV)
    
    That family is just like ours! Well, maybe not exactly, but sitcoms always seem funnier when watched alongside family.
    
    3 hours
  • Not autonomously watched by Sad sims.
• ScareMax (Growing Together)
  • Can make sims run away from the TV.
  • Can give a Scared Moodlet to sims:
    • Between 6 AM to 6 PM:
      
      Spoiler

      Scared +1
      Yikes!
      (From Watching TV)
      
      That scary moment got [Sim Name]'s heart pumping!
      
      3 hours
    • Chance for it in other hours:
      
      Spoiler

      Scared +2
      NOPE nope nope nope
      (From Watching TV)
      
      Why did [Sim Name] think watching something so scary at this hour was a good idea?
  • Gives "Yikes!" Sad Moodlet for Toddlers. They are also more likely to have a nightmare that day.
    
    Spoiler

    Sad +2
    Yikes!
    (From Watching TV)
    
    That scary channel was too much for [Sim Name].
    
    2 hours
  • Not autonomously watched by Scared sims.
• Pony Up Kids Channel (Horse Ranch)
  • Gives "Spurred by Drama" Happy Moodlet to children and Childish sims.
    
    Spoiler

    Happy +1
    Spurred by Drama
    (From Watching TV)
    
    Tales about dangerous adventures, friendship, and Horses always tug at the heart!
    
    3 hours
  • Gives "Can't Rein It In" Energized Moodlet to Horse Lover sims.
    
    Spoiler

    Energized +1
    Can't Rein It In
    (From Watching TV)
    
    How those kids and their Horses always manage to escape trouble leaves [Sim Name] feeling just as daring as them!
    
    3 hours
• Wild West Channel (Horse Ranch)
  • Gives "Ready to Ride Tall" Confident Moodlet to Horse Lover sims.
    
    Spoiler

    Confident +1
    Ready to Ride Tall
    (From Watching TV)
    
    [Sim Name] might have learned a thing or two about wrangling Horses from watching Wild West TV! Watch out world!
    
    3 hours

Finally, there are four channels that can be unlocked (under spoilers):

Spoiler

• Super Reception upgrade unlocks Fireplace and Music channels.
• Fireplace channel is also temporarily unlocked when it's winter.
• Alien channel (!#*%&$@%) is unlocked by having a satellite dish on your lot (invented by scientist). You don't need the dish to be upgraded or have an alien in your household.
• Holiday Countdown channel is temporarily unlocked during holidays with Countdown to Midnight tradition.

And that's with TV stuff!

Also fun fact, when it's snowing and sim is near a fireplace, the sim will have more fun watching TV.

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Huh? What? Ok then, it turns out suddenly that my post is saved! My work hasn't gone to waste! Yippee!

It is great that your post was saved and that you  have been able to post about the tv channels @EgonVM  Thankyou for all the very helpful information and details  that you have posted! It is great to read about each channel and the effects on and for sims, and is very helpful in our games.