TV Network Simulator Demo – Major Update & Steam Next Fest!

The TV Network Simulator Demo Has Had a Major Upgrade!

The road to Steam Next Fest: October 2026 continues, and today I'm excited to release a major update to the TV Network Simulator Demo.

A lot has changed since the previous demo build. I've been working heavily on the game's presentation, usability and management systems, and this update is a much better representation of what I want TV Network Simulator to become.

📺 A Completely Upgraded UI

One of the biggest changes is the game's interface.

Many areas of TV Network Simulator have been redesigned to make the game feel less like a collection of menus and more like actually running a television network.

You'll now move between your office and different departments, interacting with objects and areas around the network to manage different parts of the business.

The new look has been a huge undertaking, but I'm incredibly happy with how the game is starting to come together.

👥 Build Your Team

Staff management has received major improvements.

You can search for and hire different members of staff, including writers, directors and recruiters, with different specialities that can influence the programmes you create.

Recruitment takes time, so building the right team means thinking ahead rather than simply hiring somebody whenever you need them.

🎬 Produce Your Own Television

Original production has also received a lot of attention.

Head into the Production Department, assign writers and directors, choose your programme type and genre, manage your production budget and decide how much creative influence different members of your team receive.

The people you hire matter. Their strengths, specialities and involvement can all contribute to the programme you're trying to create.

Your next production could become the show that defines your network.

Or it could be an extremely expensive mistake.

That's television.

🧠 Creative Development

Your network won't have access to everything immediately.

Through Creative Development, you can invest in expanding the kinds of television your network is capable of producing, unlocking additional genres and opening up new possibilities for your original programming.

As your network develops, so do your options.

📅 Take Control of the Schedule

At the heart of TV Network Simulator is still the programming schedule.

Choose what airs, decide when it airs and try to build a line-up capable of attracting viewers throughout the week.

Ratings, programme performance and competition from rival networks mean that simply owning a good show isn't enough.

You need to know what to do with it.

📊 22 Weeks to Build Your Network

The updated demo now gives you 22 in-game weeks to experiment with the game's systems.

Hire staff. Develop programmes. Try different genres. Build schedules. Watch the ratings. Make money. Lose money. Change strategy and see whether you can do better.

The demo is designed to give you enough time to build something that actually feels like your television network.

And when those 22 weeks are over, you'll get a summary of how your network performed.

🔧 Lots of Smaller Improvements

Alongside the bigger features, this update contains numerous quality-of-life improvements, UI changes and bug fixes based on all the testing I've been doing.

There is still plenty I want to add and improve before the full release, but this is easily the version of TV Network Simulator that I'm happiest with so far.

And now I finally get to put it in your hands.

🎮 Play the Updated Demo Now

The new version of the TV Network Simulator Demo is available now on Steam.

If you've played an earlier version, I'd love for you to come back and see how much has changed.

If you've never played before, now is a great time to build your first network.

And if you enjoy what you play, please consider wishlisting TV Network Simulator. It genuinely helps an indie project like this get noticed — especially as we head towards Steam Next Fest in October.

Thank you to everyone who has followed the project, played the demo, reported bugs, offered suggestions or simply kept an eye on development.

The cameras are rolling. The schedule is yours.

Let's build a television network. 📺