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EspañolG4 (TV CHANNEL)
(Redirected from G4 (television))
'G4' is an American cable and satellite television channel originally geared toward male viewers aged 12–34, devoted to the world of video games and the video game lifestyle. More recently, the channel has diverted its focus to general interest programming that targets male viewers aged 17–36. G4 launched on April 24, 2002.[2] It is headquartered in Los Angeles, California and owned by G4 Media (which, in turn, is owned primarily by Comcast). G4 is available in 62 million cable and satellite homes in the United States.[3]
The name "G4" originally stood for the four generations of video games (text, sprites, polygons and textures); however, the form of the name is similar to such computer-age abbreviations as i18n for internationalization and can be considered as intentionally fashionable.
G4 claims to be the #1 most ''podcasted'' cable network in America with 6 of its video podcasts (mixed between extended show and broadband-only content) in iTunes' Top 100 rankings.[4] They also tout themselves as the fastest growing network on television for 2006, although there is no information to verify this claim. G4 ranks 57th out of 64 basic cable TV networks.[5]
G4 was created by Comcast and Insight Communications in 2002. The initial concept was create a service similar to TechTV but "geared more toward MTV's demographics".[6] The network was launched with 13 original series.
The launch shows consisted of ''Arena'' (a digital sports-highlight game show), ''Filter'' (a Top-Ten countdown voted by viewers), ''Blister'' (focused on action/adventure game news), ''Cinematech'' (described as a showcase for the best high-end digital art), ''Sweat'' (focused on sports game news). ''Cheat!'' (tips on games), ''Portal'' (focused on multiplayer online games), ''Pulse'' (news on the gaming industry), ''Judgment Day'' (currently known as ''Reviews on the Run'', "two video-game gurus will opine on the latest entries") and ''G4tv.com'' (an interactive talk show on video games).
G4 was originally led by Charles Hirschhorn, a former president of Walt Disney Television and Television Animation. He expected video game creators themselves to eventually produce programming for the network. He thought that G4 could follow in the footsteps of MTV which in his opinion provided music video producers with a venue for non-traditional television programming.[7]
Hirschhorn intended G4 to become a vehicle for unconventional advertising. In 2002, G4 offered advertisers "wide latitude to place their products on G4's programs, and even allowing their commercials to appear as if they're a part of the program."[8] G4 also offered what was called a "2 minute unit" which was an advertising package played as if it were part of a G4 program that was long enough to run an entire movie trailer. G4 also offered to sell the right to have a game showcased on the show "Pulse".[9]
On March 25, 2004, Comcast announced that it had purchased TechTV and would combine it with the G4 network, creating a new entity called G4techTV. The TechTV production facilities in San Francisco would be closed and the new network would be located in Los Angeles. Charles Hirschhorn of G4 was put in charge of the combined entity.
Reaction to this news was mixed among viewers of both channels, seeing the removal of several popular shows from both G4 and predominantly TechTV, and the firing of many employees (including the temporary termination of all 300 TechTV employees). The relocation of a video gaming network away from the San Francisco area, where a large portion of game development takes place, also seemed foolish to many.
On February 15, 2005, less than a year after the merger, TechTV was officially dropped from the channel's name in the U.S., and is now known only as G4. However, on the network's affiliate in Canada, the TechTV name still remains (along with some TechTV programming), and the channel is known as G4techTV Canada.
On September 19, 2005, it was reported by TVweek.com [10] that former DirecTV executive Neal Tiles had replaced G4 founder Charles Hirschhorn as the channel's CEO. Also reported was a managerial decision to decrease G4's emphasis on video game coverage, in favor of a shift toward a male general interest programming format, reminiscent of Spike TV. The programming format mostly consists of syndicated material.
Beginning with G4's September 2005 acquisition of ''The Man Show'', an alternative version of the channel's logo (featuring its website address in lieu of the slogan "Videogame TV") was introduced and gradually replaced the existing logo over the next few months.
Variety.com reported, ''Now, under the aegis of Comcast and new [president] Neal Tiles, G4 is evolving into a lifestyle channel, peppered with videogame culture, as opposed to wall-to-wall games.''
"We're going through a change. Guys like to play games, but not necessarily watch a bunch of shows with games on the screen," Tiles says. "So what we're doing now is expanding G4 from a network solely defined by videogames to one inspired by them."''
[11]
In addition to its programming, G4 recently launched an electronic waste recycling campaign called Gcycle.[12]
Comcast, the parent company of both G4 and E! Networks, announced on October 12, 2006, that it would consolidate its west coast entertainment operations, including G4, E! and Style into a new group headed by the the person who had formerly run the E! Network. It was announced that the upper management of the G4 network would relocate to the E! Network's LA office and that there would likely eventually be layoffs within the management of G4 as operations were consolidated. Ted Harbert, the CEO of the newly-created Comcast Entertainment Group, also said that in the long run the organization would look at colocating G4's television production facilities with those of E! to further cut costs. Harbert gave his opinion that the focus of the channel on "gaming has been demonstrated as being too narrow." He also gave assurances that while G4 might change, it would not become extinct.[13] [14][15]
Design Studios Onesize and yU+Co are teaming up to rebrand the G4 network.[16]
G4 has since its beginnings been involved in relationships with advertisers and sponsors which some have found questionable.[17] G4 has, in the past, boasted about its willingness to go beyond the traditional limits of advertising on the network. The willingness of the network to sell advertisements inside of program content as well as efforts in the past to sell coverage of products on shows to companies raises questions about the honesty of all content on G4. Some point to examples of what seems like excessive repeated criticism of the products of particular companies or the companies themselves and incomplete disclosure by G4 of its advertising relationships with certain companies.
The numerous changes to the network's programming also brought on a storm of criticism from longtime TechTV/G4 fans, many claiming that the channel has strayed too far from its gaming roots. With most of the remaining G4 original shows having been severely altered, many see this as G4's ongoing attempt to be a competitor to other male-oriented networks such as Spike, [18] [19] thus losing any unique identity.[20] In fact, G4 and Spike currently share the cable/satellite syndication rights to ''. The merger and the new male-oriented appeal has caused mostly negative reaction on the fanbase's end. There have even been "Anti-G4" websites, message boards[21], and things of the sort adopted to try and petition the changes - amongst other things.[22]
In addition, certain syndicated programming shown on G4 have been controversial to some degree. ''Banzai'', when it initially aired on FOX in 2003, sparked protests from Asian-American groups for depictions of stereotypes.[23] In addition, the Parents Television Council has criticized other shows now in syndication on G4, including ''Arrested Development''[24][25][26][27][28][29][30], ''Cheaters''[31], ''COPS''[32][33], and ''The Man Show''[32][35][32].
The list of current G4 personalities also includes the two remaining employees from TechTV that are highlighted in 'bold'. They are currently the hosts of the only remaining show that was originally produced by TechTV, ''X-Play''.
★ 'Adam Sessler' (co-host of ''X-Play'', Gaming correspondent on ''Attack of the Show'')
★ 'Morgan Webb' (co-host of ''X-Play'', Gaming correspondent on ''Attack of the Show'')
★ Kevin Pereira (co-host of ''Attack of the Show'')
★ Olivia Munn (co-host of ''Attack of the Show'')
★ Kristin Holt (host of ''Cheat!'')
★ Carlton Lewis (a.k.a. "Big C", host of ''Street Fury'')
★ Zach Selwyn (correspondent on ''Attack of the Show'')
★ Layla Kayleigh (anchor of "The Feed" on ''Attack of the Show'')
★ Joel Gourdin (anchor of "Gaming Update" on X-Play)
★ Chris Gore (Movie correspondent on ''Attack of the Show'')
★ Blair Butler (comic book correspondent on ''Attack of the Show'')
Main articles: G4techTV Canada
G4techTV Canada is co-owned by G4 Media and Rogers Media. Because of the co-ownership between G4 and Rogers, and the network's licensing with the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) as a technology channel, the rename of February 15, 2005 did not take effect in Canada. Also, because of CRTC programming regulations, some programs that air on G4 in the U.S. do not air on G4techTV Canada; those shows are instead replaced by Canadian-produced technology programming. G4techTV Canada is very different from its American counterpart because of these CRTC regulations. While G4techTV focuses on technology programming and related lifestyle programming that TechTV originally had, G4 has been heading into a male orientated programming direction with less of an emphasis on gaming and more on male general interests.
★ TechTV
★ G4techTV
★ G4techTV Canada
★ List of G4 television shows
★ AllGamesNetwork
1. http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA210965.html?display=Search+Results&text=G4
2. [1]
3. [2]
4. [3]
5. G4 Folds Into E! Tent
6. [4]
7. Richey, Joshua. The Rise and Fall of G4 (Part 1). 411mania.com: October 17, 2006.
8. [5]
9. [6]
10. http://www.tvweek.com/article.cms?articleId=28725
11. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117942794?categoryid=2223&cs=1&query=g4&display=g4
12. [7]
13. http://www.boingboing.net/2006/10/12/e_pwns_g4.html
14. http://www.tvweek.com/news.cms?newsId=10889
15. http://ve3d.ign.com/articles/739/739218p1.html
16. Design Studios Onesize and yU+Co Team Up To Rebrand G4 Network, ''Broadcast Newsroom'', June 20, 2007
17. [8]
18. Coming to G4: The Man Show?
19. Richey, Joshua. The Rise and Fall of G4 (Part 3). 411mania.com. November 2, 2006.
20. Richey, Joshua. The Rise and Fall of G4 (Part 4). 411mania.com. November 8, 2006.
21. http://forums.g4tv.com/messageview.aspx?catid=103&threadid=730433&enterthread=y
22. The End of Gamer TV. PTD Magazine. August 20, 2007.
23. Wilkes, Neil. 'Banzai' sparks protests in US. Digital Spy: June 18, 2003.
24. PTC evaluation of "Arrested Development"
25. PTC list of Best and Worst Shows - 2004-2005 season
26. Fox in Prime-Time: Radioactive
27. "Arrested Development" - Worst Family TV Shows of the Week
28. "Arrested Development" - Worst Family TV Show of the Week
29. "Arrested Development" on Fox - Worst Family TV Shows of the Week
30. "Arrested Development" - Worst TV Show of the Week
31. Missing Lucy More Than Ever
32.
33. PTC evaluation on "COPS"
34.
35. PTC list of Best and Worst Cable Shows of 2001-2002 season
36.
★ Official Site
★ G4techTV Canada
★ Gcycle (G4's electronic waste recycling campaign)
'G4' is an American cable and satellite television channel originally geared toward male viewers aged 12–34, devoted to the world of video games and the video game lifestyle. More recently, the channel has diverted its focus to general interest programming that targets male viewers aged 17–36. G4 launched on April 24, 2002.[2] It is headquartered in Los Angeles, California and owned by G4 Media (which, in turn, is owned primarily by Comcast). G4 is available in 62 million cable and satellite homes in the United States.[3]
The name "G4" originally stood for the four generations of video games (text, sprites, polygons and textures); however, the form of the name is similar to such computer-age abbreviations as i18n for internationalization and can be considered as intentionally fashionable.
G4 claims to be the #1 most ''podcasted'' cable network in America with 6 of its video podcasts (mixed between extended show and broadband-only content) in iTunes' Top 100 rankings.[4] They also tout themselves as the fastest growing network on television for 2006, although there is no information to verify this claim. G4 ranks 57th out of 64 basic cable TV networks.[5]
| Contents |
| Early days |
| TechTV merger |
| Format |
| Consolidation |
| Criticism |
| G4 Personalities |
| G4techTV Canada |
| Logos |
| See also |
| Footnotes |
| External links |
Early days
G4 was created by Comcast and Insight Communications in 2002. The initial concept was create a service similar to TechTV but "geared more toward MTV's demographics".[6] The network was launched with 13 original series.
The launch shows consisted of ''Arena'' (a digital sports-highlight game show), ''Filter'' (a Top-Ten countdown voted by viewers), ''Blister'' (focused on action/adventure game news), ''Cinematech'' (described as a showcase for the best high-end digital art), ''Sweat'' (focused on sports game news). ''Cheat!'' (tips on games), ''Portal'' (focused on multiplayer online games), ''Pulse'' (news on the gaming industry), ''Judgment Day'' (currently known as ''Reviews on the Run'', "two video-game gurus will opine on the latest entries") and ''G4tv.com'' (an interactive talk show on video games).
G4 was originally led by Charles Hirschhorn, a former president of Walt Disney Television and Television Animation. He expected video game creators themselves to eventually produce programming for the network. He thought that G4 could follow in the footsteps of MTV which in his opinion provided music video producers with a venue for non-traditional television programming.[7]
Hirschhorn intended G4 to become a vehicle for unconventional advertising. In 2002, G4 offered advertisers "wide latitude to place their products on G4's programs, and even allowing their commercials to appear as if they're a part of the program."[8] G4 also offered what was called a "2 minute unit" which was an advertising package played as if it were part of a G4 program that was long enough to run an entire movie trailer. G4 also offered to sell the right to have a game showcased on the show "Pulse".[9]
TechTV merger
On March 25, 2004, Comcast announced that it had purchased TechTV and would combine it with the G4 network, creating a new entity called G4techTV. The TechTV production facilities in San Francisco would be closed and the new network would be located in Los Angeles. Charles Hirschhorn of G4 was put in charge of the combined entity.
Reaction to this news was mixed among viewers of both channels, seeing the removal of several popular shows from both G4 and predominantly TechTV, and the firing of many employees (including the temporary termination of all 300 TechTV employees). The relocation of a video gaming network away from the San Francisco area, where a large portion of game development takes place, also seemed foolish to many.
On February 15, 2005, less than a year after the merger, TechTV was officially dropped from the channel's name in the U.S., and is now known only as G4. However, on the network's affiliate in Canada, the TechTV name still remains (along with some TechTV programming), and the channel is known as G4techTV Canada.
Format
On September 19, 2005, it was reported by TVweek.com [10] that former DirecTV executive Neal Tiles had replaced G4 founder Charles Hirschhorn as the channel's CEO. Also reported was a managerial decision to decrease G4's emphasis on video game coverage, in favor of a shift toward a male general interest programming format, reminiscent of Spike TV. The programming format mostly consists of syndicated material.
Beginning with G4's September 2005 acquisition of ''The Man Show'', an alternative version of the channel's logo (featuring its website address in lieu of the slogan "Videogame TV") was introduced and gradually replaced the existing logo over the next few months.
Variety.com reported, ''Now, under the aegis of Comcast and new [president] Neal Tiles, G4 is evolving into a lifestyle channel, peppered with videogame culture, as opposed to wall-to-wall games.''
"We're going through a change. Guys like to play games, but not necessarily watch a bunch of shows with games on the screen," Tiles says. "So what we're doing now is expanding G4 from a network solely defined by videogames to one inspired by them."''
[11]
In addition to its programming, G4 recently launched an electronic waste recycling campaign called Gcycle.[12]
Consolidation
Comcast, the parent company of both G4 and E! Networks, announced on October 12, 2006, that it would consolidate its west coast entertainment operations, including G4, E! and Style into a new group headed by the the person who had formerly run the E! Network. It was announced that the upper management of the G4 network would relocate to the E! Network's LA office and that there would likely eventually be layoffs within the management of G4 as operations were consolidated. Ted Harbert, the CEO of the newly-created Comcast Entertainment Group, also said that in the long run the organization would look at colocating G4's television production facilities with those of E! to further cut costs. Harbert gave his opinion that the focus of the channel on "gaming has been demonstrated as being too narrow." He also gave assurances that while G4 might change, it would not become extinct.[13] [14][15]
Design Studios Onesize and yU+Co are teaming up to rebrand the G4 network.[16]
Criticism
G4 has since its beginnings been involved in relationships with advertisers and sponsors which some have found questionable.[17] G4 has, in the past, boasted about its willingness to go beyond the traditional limits of advertising on the network. The willingness of the network to sell advertisements inside of program content as well as efforts in the past to sell coverage of products on shows to companies raises questions about the honesty of all content on G4. Some point to examples of what seems like excessive repeated criticism of the products of particular companies or the companies themselves and incomplete disclosure by G4 of its advertising relationships with certain companies.
The numerous changes to the network's programming also brought on a storm of criticism from longtime TechTV/G4 fans, many claiming that the channel has strayed too far from its gaming roots. With most of the remaining G4 original shows having been severely altered, many see this as G4's ongoing attempt to be a competitor to other male-oriented networks such as Spike, [18] [19] thus losing any unique identity.[20] In fact, G4 and Spike currently share the cable/satellite syndication rights to ''. The merger and the new male-oriented appeal has caused mostly negative reaction on the fanbase's end. There have even been "Anti-G4" websites, message boards[21], and things of the sort adopted to try and petition the changes - amongst other things.[22]
In addition, certain syndicated programming shown on G4 have been controversial to some degree. ''Banzai'', when it initially aired on FOX in 2003, sparked protests from Asian-American groups for depictions of stereotypes.[23] In addition, the Parents Television Council has criticized other shows now in syndication on G4, including ''Arrested Development''[24][25][26][27][28][29][30], ''Cheaters''[31], ''COPS''[32][33], and ''The Man Show''[32][35][32].
G4 Personalities
The list of current G4 personalities also includes the two remaining employees from TechTV that are highlighted in 'bold'. They are currently the hosts of the only remaining show that was originally produced by TechTV, ''X-Play''.
★ 'Adam Sessler' (co-host of ''X-Play'', Gaming correspondent on ''Attack of the Show'')
★ 'Morgan Webb' (co-host of ''X-Play'', Gaming correspondent on ''Attack of the Show'')
★ Kevin Pereira (co-host of ''Attack of the Show'')
★ Olivia Munn (co-host of ''Attack of the Show'')
★ Kristin Holt (host of ''Cheat!'')
★ Carlton Lewis (a.k.a. "Big C", host of ''Street Fury'')
★ Zach Selwyn (correspondent on ''Attack of the Show'')
★ Layla Kayleigh (anchor of "The Feed" on ''Attack of the Show'')
★ Joel Gourdin (anchor of "Gaming Update" on X-Play)
★ Chris Gore (Movie correspondent on ''Attack of the Show'')
★ Blair Butler (comic book correspondent on ''Attack of the Show'')
G4techTV Canada
Main articles: G4techTV Canada
G4techTV Canada is co-owned by G4 Media and Rogers Media. Because of the co-ownership between G4 and Rogers, and the network's licensing with the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) as a technology channel, the rename of February 15, 2005 did not take effect in Canada. Also, because of CRTC programming regulations, some programs that air on G4 in the U.S. do not air on G4techTV Canada; those shows are instead replaced by Canadian-produced technology programming. G4techTV Canada is very different from its American counterpart because of these CRTC regulations. While G4techTV focuses on technology programming and related lifestyle programming that TechTV originally had, G4 has been heading into a male orientated programming direction with less of an emphasis on gaming and more on male general interests.
Logos
See also
★ TechTV
★ G4techTV
★ G4techTV Canada
★ List of G4 television shows
★ AllGamesNetwork
Footnotes
1. http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA210965.html?display=Search+Results&text=G4
2. [1]
3. [2]
4. [3]
5. G4 Folds Into E! Tent
6. [4]
7. Richey, Joshua. The Rise and Fall of G4 (Part 1). 411mania.com: October 17, 2006.
8. [5]
9. [6]
10. http://www.tvweek.com/article.cms?articleId=28725
11. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117942794?categoryid=2223&cs=1&query=g4&display=g4
12. [7]
13. http://www.boingboing.net/2006/10/12/e_pwns_g4.html
14. http://www.tvweek.com/news.cms?newsId=10889
15. http://ve3d.ign.com/articles/739/739218p1.html
16. Design Studios Onesize and yU+Co Team Up To Rebrand G4 Network, ''Broadcast Newsroom'', June 20, 2007
17. [8]
18. Coming to G4: The Man Show?
19. Richey, Joshua. The Rise and Fall of G4 (Part 3). 411mania.com. November 2, 2006.
20. Richey, Joshua. The Rise and Fall of G4 (Part 4). 411mania.com. November 8, 2006.
21. http://forums.g4tv.com/messageview.aspx?catid=103&threadid=730433&enterthread=y
22. The End of Gamer TV. PTD Magazine. August 20, 2007.
23. Wilkes, Neil. 'Banzai' sparks protests in US. Digital Spy: June 18, 2003.
24. PTC evaluation of "Arrested Development"
25. PTC list of Best and Worst Shows - 2004-2005 season
26. Fox in Prime-Time: Radioactive
27. "Arrested Development" - Worst Family TV Shows of the Week
28. "Arrested Development" - Worst Family TV Show of the Week
29. "Arrested Development" on Fox - Worst Family TV Shows of the Week
30. "Arrested Development" - Worst TV Show of the Week
31. Missing Lucy More Than Ever
32.
33. PTC evaluation on "COPS"
34.
35. PTC list of Best and Worst Cable Shows of 2001-2002 season
36.
External links
★ Official Site
★ G4techTV Canada
★ Gcycle (G4's electronic waste recycling campaign)
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