Empire TV

Empire TV is a simulation/management game in which the player is tasked with running a television channel. The Empire TV station is facing financial difficulties and splits its three channels to the player and two AI-controlled rivals with the goal of keeping only one which gets the most ratings.

Each channel's owner moves around the station to upgrade equipment, buy and sell rights to shows, manage staff, arrange the broadcast schedule, and manage film production. Custom-made films can be entered to award shows for a money boost if they win in any category. The schedule needs to be adapted to the different demographics which watch TV at different and random hours of the day, and who will give priority to the channel showing a program with a higher quality rating. They can additionally be shown news, which are more interesting if reporters are sent to a downtown event, and advertisements which bring significant amounts of money if shown to the right people in a short period but a penalty the arrangement is not completed. Occasionally, a viewer will call the station with a request for a specific type of comment at a given time slot in exchange for a reward. Money can be saved by acquiring shows from the pirate seller in the basement, but this has a risk of authorities penalizing the channel.

The player needs to keep up with rival channels by building broadcasting antennae to reach more viewers and producing or buying shows with ever higher quality, while at the same time avoiding bankruptcy - starting any two days (not necessarily consecutive) with a negative balance sheet will force the Empire TV boss to close the player's channel. In the default game mode, the game is won by whoever gets the highest fame score, but there is also an endless mode and an option to customize the rules.