The struggling G4 network has been brought under the E! Networks tent, with plans to continue expanding the network's focus from video games to a more general entertainment destination for young men. As with most acquisitions, the network will most likely see layoffs, but the hope is that it will be able to attract more viewers, something it hasn't been able to do in its current form. While video games have seen a huge resurgence in recent years, the gamer demographic is too narrow, according to Ted Harbert, CEO of Comcast Entertainment Group. Meanwhile, I have yet to find any buyers for my network focusing entirely on the game of mumbletypeg. It seems kids these days just don't play with pocket knives like they used to.
G4 consolidates into E!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-13-2006 @ 1:22PM
jay black said...
just so long as morgan webb is still on television in some way shape or form, i'll be happy.
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10-13-2006 @ 1:37PM
jeff smith said...
This is sad to see this channel was good as TechTV with shows like Silicon Spin, Call for Help, and later on Judgement Day and the early AOTS. But the recent months adding Man Show and Cheaters ruined it. Hopefully they just put a nail in the coffin and kill it all off so some other channel can try to do this concept again.
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10-13-2006 @ 1:35PM
kenm said...
G4 should die a horrible, painful death. TechTV was a great channel that could have developed into a decent ratings grabber if given a couple more years. Look at how prevelant tech is in the daily lives of non-geek types today compared to just a few years ago. The day Comcast bought TechTV and systematically destroyed everything that was great about it was one of the worst days in cable history, in my opinion.
Not coincidentally, one of the most popular podcasts is from the former gurus of TechTV. If you're interested in what happened Leo Laporte, Patrick Norton, Kevein Rose et al then head over to http://twit.tv, http://www.revision3.com and http://dl.tv. You will find lots of TechTV goodness there... and none of the G4 pre-pubescent crap.
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10-13-2006 @ 1:57PM
Cross777 said...
G4 can't die soon enough. Even buying TechTV couldn't save the idiots running this network. They kept their lame programming, dumped all the TechTV content (or butchered it beyond recognition (ScreenSavers/AOTS), added crap like StarTrek 2.0 and they still are failing as a network.
Someone else should put together a new network with the TechTV formula.
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10-13-2006 @ 3:14PM
David said...
I want TechTV back. :(
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10-13-2006 @ 4:15PM
Tenken said...
Wow, so now they can add even more useless programming that has nothing to do with technology or video games. Huzzah. Everyone above is right, Tech TV, despite its constant repeats, was an amazing channel that I would kill to have back on the air. Luckily, we're almost there with all the podcasts the old Tech TV crew are involved in.
Take a look at the "This Week in Tech" network at www.twit.tv and rejoice in the fact that you're not support G4 or it's idiotic hosts anymore. The television revolution will be online!
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10-13-2006 @ 6:27PM
Adam Rakunas said...
Gargh! Just as long as they keep repeating "Arrested Development," I don't give two figs what happens.
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10-13-2006 @ 11:46PM
M-D said...
For the purposes of correcting the original post, it's worth noting that this isn't an acquisition - G4 was already owned by Comcast - this is a consolidation of managment and resources, and the assignment of a Big Fancy Title to the guy who runs E!
Unfortunately, I never had the opportunity to see TechTV, as Comcast (my cable provider) never picked up the channel. But even without having seen it, it's clear that the old TechTV was an extreme example of a niche channel (just like the old G4, for that matter). With the industry trending the way it has been over the last few years, super-niche channels are a liability for a lot of corporate owners, like Comcast, NBC, Disney, Viacom, etc. (I'm not advocating this, mind you, just stating what's what.)
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10-14-2006 @ 9:10PM
Evan said...
I'm confused, does this mean that G4 will exist still, or E! will absorb G4's shows, killing G4 as a channel?
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