Television
- This article is about the household appliance. For Secret Base decoration, see Ornament#TVs.
Televisions (also abbreviated TVs) are part of the furniture in most houses in the Pokémon world. They debuted in Generation I, but were merely for decoration until Generation III. They have also appeared in the Pokémon anime.
In the games
Generations I and II
The televisions in this Generation were merely for decoration purposes and, unlike the next generations, the television is in the middle of the room. Televisions normally appeared in residential houses. The same applies in FireRed and LeafGreen.
Generation III
Television returned in Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald, replacing Generation II's radio broadcasts and is more useful than Generation I use. They were present in most houses in Hoenn, but had a limited function here, only showing programs when an event occurs, such as swarming Pokémon, or the player changes a Pokémon's nickname at the Name Rater. They may also show interviews with the player character, who answers by selecting words from a drop-down list. When a program is airing, the television screen will flash, and will not cease flashing until the program has been watched. If an event has not happened to activate a television program, the screen will remain blank and the phrase "Mom/Dad will like this... better get going!" will be played. The programming is organized by Hoenn TV.
Generation IV
In Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum television screens flash constantly. Jubilife TV produces many television programs broadcast all around the Sinnoh region, including the Trend Tracker show, Trainer Research, and Sinnoh Now. Each program includes information about events happening around Sinnoh, including swarming Pokémon and weather conditions affecting different routes. They may also contain information about the player which is customizable by speaking to a number interviewers which can be found scattered around the region. Like in the previous generation, the answers to the interviewers' questions are limited, but more answers can be added by learning trendy phrases in Snowpoint City. At the conclusion of each program, a series of advertisements can be watched.
The events of the main storyline in Diamond and Pearl are encouraged by a television program, The Search for the Red Gyarados. Later, at the Survival Area, the player will encounter the cameraman responsible for this story. In Platinum this person can be found blocking the entrance to Lake Valor hoping to see Azelf before Team Galactic blows up the Galactic Bomb there.
There is also a TV in the Old Chateau which contains a wild Rotom at night (after obtaining the National Dex in Diamond and Pearl, and at any time in Platinum).
In the anime
Television has been present in the anime since the first episode, where Ash saw a Pokémon League battle on television. Ash and his traveling companions have met several television and film producers on their journeys, but televisions remained largely unseen until the Advanced Generation series. Several characters mention watching Pokémon Contests on TV, and in Saved by the Beldum! several supporting characters watch Ash's battle on TV. Like in the games, Sinnoh Now is broadcast in the Sinnoh region, with host Rhonda.
Trivia
- TVs are wider in the Generation IV games. This may reflect the general trend towards new TVs being widescreen.
- So far, only cathode ray tube televisions have been used, as games have yet to feature plasma screen televisions, with the exception of the Villa television set.