Announcing the ‘Lights Out, Cameras On’ Update

I went through hundreds of feature ideas—some previously published, some fresh, and some buried in my old notes about Endless TV Tycoon—and organized everything before diving into planning the next major update.

The good news? The list of potential future features is now much more complete, and you can check it out right now under Game Menu » Feature Voting, just below the current voting options.

And of course, this also means I could finally map out the next update in detail! It won’t just include the third community-voted feature, Planned Show Endings, but also network management improvements, quality-of-life upgrades, and a fun new way to score free subscriptions.

So why the name Lights Out, Cameras On? It’s a nod to planned show endings and all the exciting new features it brings. Let’s dive in!

🎬 Next Update: Lights Out, Cameras On

Planned Show Endings

• Right now, a network just cancels a show, but with this update, both player-controlled studios and networks will have new options.
• A player-controlled studio can request that a network ends a show after the next season. The network will decide (unless it’s also player-controlled, in which case it’s automatic). If accepted, the last season gets ordered.
• A player-controlled network can tell a studio they’re ordering a final season, so they can wrap things up properly.
• Players can choose to include special ending episodes, like a two-part finale and a flashback episode leading up to it.
• Final seasons get a bigger budget and higher minimum score requirements.
• Special episodes get a viewership boost.
• Spin-offs have a better chance of getting approved if the original show had a planned ending.

Network Management Improvements

• More info during renewal evaluations to make better decisions.
• Apply-to-all options for minimum score and budget settings during renewals.
• Genres displayed in more places in the Scheduling Office to help with ad management.
• New bulk ad scheduling options.
• A Weekly Events warning when your schedule isn’t fully set for the current week.
• AI studio decisions on network offers will now be split into two events, so accepted and rejected offers are listed separately.
• Events about scheduleable shows will be grouped into one notification to reduce clutter.

Quality-of-Life Improvements

• Less accidental tapping! Buttons and list items will be easier to navigate without misclicks.
• AI networks will be more likely to end shows as seasons stack up, improving realism.
• When starting a new show, there will be a random promo image shown instead of the default template.
• An indicator in the Briefing Room will show which shows have episodes ready to produce.
• New sorting options in the Library (by number of seasons) and new filters (by production status).
• Viewership sorting added to the Networks screen.
• A new dropdown week selector in the Scheduling Office, so you can jump weeks more easily.
• A brand-new launch screen! It will replace the Game Menu, and provide an overview of the game's current state after each launch.

New Raffle Game

• Get a raffle ticket every day just by opening the game.
• Earn extra tickets by helping spread the word—inviting a friend, posting about the game, etc.
• Monthly raffles will let you win an Ultimate Pass! More tickets = better odds.
• Even current Ultimate Pass holders can enter—if they win, their subscription gets extended.

These are my plans for the first update of 2025! While some details might shift, I wanted to share what’s in the works. Hope you’re as excited as I am!

💖 Support Endless TV Tycoon

I started this game in 2019 as a passion project, powered by an amazing, if small, community. Its niche focus means traditional funding methods like one-time purchases or ad revenue wouldn’t sustain development.

That’s why subscriptions are vital. Your support directly funds updates, new features, and improvements. While the game isn’t self-sustaining yet, every bit of support gets us closer.

• A Basic Pass speeds up development and ensures an interruption-free experience.
• An Ultimate Pass unlocks 1,500+ Promo Images, Early Access features, Feature Voting, and your name in the Hall of Fame!

Thank you for supporting this journey—it means the world to me. 🥰

🗳️ Feature Voting Status Report

Ultimate Pass holders have a direct say in what I work on next through Feature Voting. We’re currently in Voting Season 4, which will close when the Lights Out, Cameras On update (2025.1) launches. Here’s how the votes stand so far:

1. Critics & Viewer Reviews: 4,445 votes
2. Streaming Subscription Tiers: 3,528 votes
3. Talent Expansion & Customization: 1,608 votes
4. Network Management Enhancements: 857 votes
5. Episode Production Upgrade: 673 votes
6. Genre & Timeline Upgrade: 468 votes
7. Reimagined Weekly Events: 427 votes
8. Show Marketing Campaigns: 372 votes
9. Custom Show Promo Images: 229 votes
10. Unified Top Charts: 162 votes

If you haven’t yet, grab an Ultimate Pass and make your voice heard!

That’s all, folks! 🐽 Happy empire-building, and stay tuned for more updates. 📺

Cheers, Greg Karpati 👋