Gamers in trouble: G4 moves to E!
TV Week reports that Comcast will consolidate its West Coast entertainment networks, and shift G4 under the control of E! Hopefully this doesn't mean Ryan Seacrest will be covering game news. The cable network has struggled since it debuted in 2002, although it does hold the dubious claim of being the most podcasted cable network in America. If you visited the G4 booth at E3 this year, you had to download and watch one of their podcasts before they would give you any schwag, like giant foam Spock hands in the Vulcan salute -- a reminder that they now feature classic Star Trek episodes in their lineup to attract more viewers.
G4 is ranked 57th out of 64 basic cable networks, and hasn't been able to make focusing solely on video games work. E! Chief Ted Harbert said, "I do agree with the vision of going after young men more than just going after gaming. Gaming has been demonstrated as being too narrow." Yes, focusing on an industry that pulls in more than nine billion dollars yearly seems really narrow. This doesn't bode well for shows like X-Play and Cheat!, which are the sole hangers-on from a channel that now features fare like Cheaters and Fastlane in its lineup.
If they can start airing shows that people would actually pay attention to, like Red vs. Blue or The Leeroy Jenkins Power Hour, things might start looking up.
[Thanks Probot]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Ty M. @ Oct 13th 2006 11:01AM
Tech TVs wrath extends from beyond the electronic grave.
Seriously, that channel was eons better than G4 and it is sorely missed.
DarkMavis @ Oct 13th 2006 11:04AM
I can't believe G4 is still on the air. Everything about them is wrong. I had high hopes that we would be getting a channel chock full of gaming goodness when TechTV and G4 merged but instead we go something that can only be described as crap-tacular.
Someone should buy this network, burn it to the ground, and start from scratch only this time DON'T add crap like Fastlane and old Star Trek episodes.
That's just my 2 cents.....
Pedro Van Faulk @ Oct 13th 2006 11:04AM
Perhaps the reason they haven't been able to make 'gaming TV' work is because they haven't done gaming TV. Maybe if they had 15 total minutes of programming that doesn't treat it's viewership like a a pack slavering mongrel inbreds that think Tommy Tallarico shoving things down his pants is intensive journlism.
Flit @ Oct 13th 2006 11:08AM
Ditto @1.
Useful computer and tech info, (like having Joystiq and engaget on the tv) was nice on TechTV. I miss the days of TechTV and all the little tricks they taught you about computers on THe Screen Savers. G4 is nothing more than Mtv with Star Trek now. Kevin Perrera is the devil and can stop shilling now. The entire network can die for all I care, Maybe "Expanded Play" will make a Comeback with The Sess all by himself online? Morgan can maybe come, if they get rid of the bad dialogue between reviews. One can only hope.
DarkMavis @ Oct 13th 2006 11:10AM
@ Pedro Van Faulk
No kidding!!!
Don't even get me start on Tommy Tallarico. He should be shot out of a cannon into a brick wall. Same goes for Morgan Webb. When I look at her I don't know if I should rub her nose or give her a sugar cube. (For the uninitiated, I think she looks like a horse)
The Man @ Oct 13th 2006 11:10AM
G4 / TechTV technology programming needs to be at 85%. They are airing Cheaters® reality TV, The Man Show and Star Trek. Don't get me wrong, I like watching 2 and 3 sometimes. But thats not the reason I tune in. They need more shows on the tech and gaming industry.
Dracula Jones @ Oct 13th 2006 11:11AM
Yes, but what does this mean for Arrested Development reruns?! That was the only thing that lured me into G4's foul lair.
kris @ Oct 13th 2006 11:12AM
God I hate G4.
KR @ Oct 13th 2006 11:14AM
G4 ruled for its first year or two. Most were just slightly above cable-access show levels, but it was STILL at least a video game channel. Plus there were next to no ads! Then, the cross promotion with the godawful xXx movie started, meaning you'd see an ad for it every 10 minutes. Then Pringles sponsored shows (Cheat is STILL on? Is that same guy still hosting it?). Then they stopped showing the hilarious "Starcade" gameshow from the early/mid 80's (grand prize on one of the episodes - a ROBOT!). Then they did some Icons episodes on something/someone that had zero to do with video games. That was enough for me.
I knew the channel was on borrowed time, but I was digging the bargain-basement approach while it lasted.
Jellodyne @ Oct 13th 2006 11:15AM
Hey, that sexy horse is the best thing on the channel. G4 -- TV for gamers who want to watch a second-rate SpikeTV.
BklynKid @ Oct 13th 2006 11:15AM
Bring TechTV back!
J.Goodwin @ Oct 13th 2006 11:15AM
I agree entirely with Pedro.
They've never even attempted to make this a gaming channel. Every time they try to "attract more viewers" they make it less attractive to gamers. Third rate reruns of shows that belong on local UHF stations, things that are literally direct to video that they happen to broadcast as if it were TV...
The sad thing is, aside from Cheaters, I like all of their shows that are actually GAME RELATED. I'd like them more if they weren't endless repeats, but that's what I've got a DVR for, so it's not that big a deal.
macuseros9 @ Oct 13th 2006 11:16AM
I didn't know G4 was about Videogames.
All they ever talk about on G4 is Sex, Myspace, Boobs and StarTrek.
Daniel @ Oct 13th 2006 11:16AM
Sooo....where are the updates for the Wii pre-orders? They had a huge thing for PS3 the morning of those pre-orders. I want to know how many stores are pre-ordering and how fast they're going!!
(yes, I know this has absolutely nothing to do with G4 but it's the newest story here. So I'm an asshole. Sue me)
Todd @ Oct 13th 2006 11:18AM
I loved TechTV. I'm not so big on G4. I love the Star Trek: TNG reruns though. I don't mind watching X-Play, though Webb really annoys me.
I personally think X-Play should move to SpikeTV. That show is a much better channel for young men and I believe X-Play would do well there.
Mike @ Oct 13th 2006 11:18AM
I miss my Tech Tv.
DarkMavis @ Oct 13th 2006 11:18AM
@ Jellodyne
LOL.... sexy horse. Nicely played.
jmatt @ Oct 13th 2006 11:19AM
How quickly forget, don't we? Anyone remember Morgan Webb back on TechTV, working on those Windows dirty tricks and hacks? Or how about the tech round ups? Oh wait, she's a girl on G4, she must be stupid......
DesertEagleXIX @ Oct 13th 2006 11:20AM
"If you visited the G4 booth at E3 this year, you had to download and watch one of their podcasts before they would give you any schwag"
What? I recall gettiing more G4 stuff then I know what to do with, and I never had to download nor watch a podcast!
At the both, Morgan seemed uninterested, and she didn't look like she wanted to be there. Adam had on more make-up than a dutch whore, but at least he seemed interested and was talking with the media.
I donated some of the excess G4 shirts to charity; one seemed to reappear recently- I was a Downtown LA homeless man interviewed on Channel 4 wearing the G4 logo. Free advertising!
Ryan @ Oct 13th 2006 11:20AM
TECH TV!!!!! TECH TV!!!!! TECH TV!!!!! TECH TV!!!!! TECH TV!!!!!
Man, I can't emphasize this enough! I want my Tech TV.
Yanni @ Oct 13th 2006 11:21AM
X-Play is the reason I stopped watching G4. They do nothing but rip on every game in hopes of being funny and do stupid repeating skits that no one cares about. Morgan Webb isn't hot and she doesn't sound like she knows what she's talking about when she does reviews.
Cheat is also pretty shitty, throw a hot girl on a show and have her talk about games doesn't equate to ratings.
If they would stop making fun of gamers and actually have shows about video games, the gamers might actually watch it past the 5 minutes I do before I change the channel. A show about upcoming games and game news might be nice too. Not to mention good publicity for the industry. Game review shows suck. At least X-Play sucks.
Lorben @ Oct 13th 2006 11:21AM
Gamers in trouble? Gamers were in trouble when techTV became G4.
Now there’s little left to ruin.
Christian @ Oct 13th 2006 11:24AM
Everyone is bang on here. X-play is the best game show they have, and it sucks. I get it that they are staffed by wanna be comedy writers, but it's possible to put together a gaming show that isn't constantly trying to fill time with really bad jokes? Attack of the Show is awful.
They need a show with lower production values, and faster updates - like a Sportscenter but for tech.
Also cover some MLG tournments, or something. This is cheap programming.
Why not let videogame studios produce promotional documentaries about upcoming games? basically free (or you charge them to air) programming that gamers would watch. Didn't EA recently try to charge $19 for a Madden preview? Get the developers involved...
zerodb @ Oct 13th 2006 11:25AM
The only good show on G4 is "Game Makers." Unlike Icons, they actually talk about real game industry people and the history behind them.
I agree with comment #3. They never gave gaming TV an honest shot. Instead they gave a half-assed attempt at wooing us with allegedly pretty girls who know next to nothing about games (Morgan Webb being the one exception, she seems to have a clue) and subjecting us to Attack of the Show and Fastlane. Weak.
An all-gaming network is a fantastic idea. It could be done well. It just hasn't been.
Jason W @ Oct 13th 2006 11:30AM
G4 sucks. Tech TV was great. xplay, TSS, Fresh Gear were all great fun shows that I watched.
ATOTS SUCKS!!!! SO BAD! Xplay is still ok but not as good as it use to be. I do like the current Adam and Morgan combo. Now HGTV has a show that is basically fresh gear called I want that Tech Toys.
BRING BACK TECH TV!
shase @ Oct 13th 2006 11:35AM
My roomate used to watch tech tv all the time. Robot wars, xplay and many others. I started watching after it "turned" into G4TV.
Some shows I think are worthless and should be removed ASAP:
Cheat! - this show is stupid- the chick is hot but who wants to watch the show on how to do cheat when you can go to gamefaqs to find "everything" you need to know under 5 minutes?
Any reruns- they are DEAD SHOWS so stop airing them... G4 has tons of reruns- star trek NG/2.0, banzai and the man show.
Some shows I watch -
Xplay - mostly for their silly comments etc.
Happy tree friends - its so funny that its really wrong to laugh but i still laugh :)
Nocturnal Emissions - its decent with differen game intros and other obscure stuff that might pique my interest in a particular game.
Pedro Van Faulk @ Oct 13th 2006 11:35AM
What I would not mind seeing on Game tv would be reruns of old game TV. For nostalgia purposes. Like how Sci fi channels show old godzilla movies and plan 9 every now and then. Gaming networks should show old reruns of Nick arcade, VNA top 10, and stuff like that. Not only would it be a cool (if traumatic due to early 90s fashion) way to see how far we've come, it would serve as a warning to new gaming media not to take ourselves to seriously.
If they want to bring in kids, they could also show liscenced programs early in the mornings. That sonic cartoon is supposed to be popular. Hell, we could dredge up the old megaman and captain N shows as well.
And why not have dedcated gaming news shows? Like a daily show type thing. A guy or girl who does a weekly update on happenings, or points towards interesting Machinima. Hell, they could air RVB reruns late at night. They could even cover MLG like they do in Korea.
If they wanted to be highbrow, they could even have programs discussing issues related to gaming (like sex, violence, censorship, money....)
See? There are infinite possibilities. And most of what I mentioned wouldn't even be all that expensive. And unlike the dreck we have now, people might actually watch.
Sess4Prez @ Oct 13th 2006 11:35AM
I really hope the Sess can find a way to stick around in the industry, he's about the only person I can honestly trust when discussing anything game related. He doesn't slam games for being Kiddy, he doesn't slam Sony for their pricetags. He is known to dislike jrpgs, but yet still doesn't give them 1 out of 5 reviews because of it. He just seems objective and honest with most of his reviews, despite the gags.
Gerwurztraminer @ Oct 13th 2006 11:36AM
I like the concept of G4 and some shows are ok (Icons for example is often interesting) but I won't miss it. Mostly because I recently moved and the new channel lineup has G4 at Channel 164 and my TV and VCR don't seem to like that idea very much.
Iscariote @ Oct 13th 2006 11:36AM
The only show I watch on G4 is reruns of the Man Show.
zakchase @ Oct 13th 2006 11:36AM
I miss Leo Laporte and Cat Schwartz and Martin Sargent and the way things used to be a good ol' TechTV. ::sigh::
NATO_Duke @ Oct 13th 2006 11:38AM
TechTV at least was interesting. G4 has somehow become SpikeTv, with less to offer. WTF does star trek, the man show, and the rest of that junk have to do with gaming. They abandoned gamers and a solid premise - so gamers abandoned them.
It would be nice if a company with the balls to see it through would try out a game network.
32_Footsteps @ Oct 13th 2006 11:40AM
"Don't even get me start on Tommy Tallarico. He should be shot out of a cannon into a brick wall."
This comment is so funny and true, I had to quote it just to hammer it home.
I wonder at what point they'll realize that there is room for a video gaming network - they just need to make it not suck.
Of course, to some extent we need to recognize that video gaming does have a smaller dedicated audience. There's still enough of us to get a network stable (seriously, have you seen some of the networks that manage alright out there?). We just need to be convinced it's worth our time and we don't want to be pandered to. So far, obviously, nobody is realizing that.
Doom @ Oct 13th 2006 11:40AM
I agree with #28. Sessler is one of the better video game reviewers. I don't know whether it's a show of the industry's hilarious lack of professional critiquing, but Sessler is someone I listen to and respect despite his buffoonish exterior on the show.
All the rest of the G4 clods, however, should just operate a pirate TV station of SpikeTV shows with the G4 logo slapped on it. Oh, wait, they already do that.
RamJaw @ Oct 13th 2006 11:40AM
G4 has gone a bit downhill since the beginning but it is still better than some of the other crap on tv. Unfortunately, I don't get the station anymore. How can it compete if it's not shown in some of the main markets (NY-NJ area)?
RUSKULL @ Oct 13th 2006 11:42AM
They DIDN'T focus strictly on video games all the time, and that may have been their biggest problem. All I wanted was a video game channel, but instead I would tune in and catch two chicks talking about dildos...I'm serious!
Having a show about real life sports athletes and a show about cars does not interrest the gaming audience, and neither do pro Apple shows because Apple is practically anti-video games!
Man,if I ran that network, it would be a totally different story. Pisses me off whenever good ideas and lots of money are WASTED!
k, just had to get that out. Bah!
KR @ Oct 13th 2006 11:43AM
#24 - "The only good show on G4 is "Game Makers." Unlike Icons, they actually talk about real game industry people and the history behind them."
What's annoying is, for a year or two, Icons DID do that. I remember episodes about Nolan Bushnell, Oddworld Inhabitants, Keiji Inafune/Capcom, and several other entertaining episodes.
...then they decided to start doing crap on Kevin Smith or whatever douchebag celebrity they felt like profiling. That's what the crappy "Players" show was for, and it annoyed me when the celebs wound up in "Icons" as well.
Gimbal @ Oct 13th 2006 11:44AM
This comment section will now be hijacked to become the "Bring back TechTV" petition.
[Gimbal cries knowing it will never happen]
Buckshot @ Oct 13th 2006 11:47AM
31. I miss Leo Laporte and Cat Schwartz and Martin Sargent and the way things used to be a good ol' TechTV. ::sigh::
A big Hell yeah! Right on!
zakchase @ Oct 13th 2006 11:48AM
As for today's G4, X-Play is the only show I watch on it. It's a consisently entertaining and informative half hour. (And, come on, people -- Morgan Webb is smokin' hot.)
But the rest of that channel is a joke. Who decided that The Man Show, Star Trek: TNG, something called Cheaters, a smattering of video game shows, and Fastline all should go on the same network? Let's face it, E! execs can't do any worse running this thing.
birdman @ Oct 13th 2006 11:49AM
If it were TechTV with a show or two about games I would be all for it. Perhaps imported anime at night and the removal of most G4 shows... I don't mind AOTS _sometimes_ but if I had to pick one show to keep it would be that one.
seighton @ Oct 13th 2006 11:52AM
TVs are used for gaming; and Internet Programming is used for tech/game info.
DL.tv w/ Patrick Norton, Diggnation w/ Kevin Rose,
Geekdrome, and tons of other shows to watch.
Let the rest of the world be completley clueless about gaming and tech. It's already a huge industry, we don't need them to understand.
scrapp @ Oct 13th 2006 11:57AM
The problems with G4 tv are simple......
1. The bitch on Cheat! is phony as hell and sucks the life out of anyone who catches her glimpse for a second.
2. STOP SHOWING THE FUCKING MAN SHOW, that shit is stale and sucks harder than the golden girls
3. Where exactely is the gaming influence on the channel? When ever I turn it on I get that stupid Cheat! show or the idiotic XPLay show, they SUCK!
Why do the hosts on G4 have to be so fucking phony? They act as if they've never really cared about games and they just want to spout off humorous quipes to make themselves feel good.
HAS anyone seen the 1up show?
That's what the G4 network needs, they should just put that shit on for 2 hours a day, at least and let them do roundtable discussions about games and events in the industry.
And how bout some motherfucking gaming news!?!?! Instead of that stupid ass The Feed? Why does everything have to thave a cute/hip name? Just call it the motherfucking news, why does it have to be so difficult?
And how bout G4 hires those guys from DL.TV to do an hour show for computer hardware and goings on?
Why do I have to ask? Whos running this fucking channel into the ground? E!......really E! thats the best comcast could do? Is have those psychophants who hump Lindsay Lohan run a "gaming channel" Give me a fucking break.
In two years G4 will be no more.
KR @ Oct 13th 2006 11:57AM
#27 - They used to show Starcade (awesome old show from the early 80's) where people with big hair and ridiculous pants played arcade games competitively. It was also the first show G4 ever pulled from it's schedule, if I remember correctly, which is sad.
Biggie @ Oct 13th 2006 11:59AM
I'll agree with most of the previous posters. Tech TV was just starting to get good, in terms of programing and bam they get swallowed up by G4. Thus, creating a big pile of hot dodo. When will these people that the tech/game crowd is age 15-50 and not limited to 15-25 year old males. Well RIP G4 you where shit anyway.
the breakfast ninja @ Oct 13th 2006 12:02PM
@ 27:
"And why not have dedcated gaming news shows? Like a daily show type thing. A guy or girl who does a weekly update on happenings, or points towards interesting Machinima."
The funny thing is, they *did* have that. It was a show called Pulse, cancelled in Nov. 2004 and its content folded into TSS (now AOTS).
The only things really worth watching on G4 are X-Play (probably one of the funniest shows out there, and their reviews are pretty reliable - Adam and Morgan FTW) and AOTS (though they've lost something over the last few months), and *maybe* Icons and Cinematech. Everything else - meh.
Eligio J Rosa @ Oct 13th 2006 12:07PM
Gamers in trouble?!?!?!?!
HA!
Give me an episode of the 1up show before 90% of G4's "original" programing.
That said, it will be interesting to see what E! is going to do with the network. Tech TV's highest point was when an E! programing director was hired.
If you tell me this 3 years back I would had cringed. But now E! is actually a decent (even though I only watch the Soup) Network.
The only thing that I hope of this change is that they fire Kevin Perriera.
FIRE KEVIN!!!!
Rancid Lunchmeat @ Oct 13th 2006 12:08PM
I used to love TechTV. Then I moved and it wasn't offered. I used to get stoked when I'd go on vacation somewhere and they'd have TechTV in the hotel. Then we got G4 TV.
I tune into the channel usually twice a day. I have yet to ever encounter any technology or gaming programming. The closest I've ever come across is 'Icons' that is only occasionally about games. It's Star Trek, Star Trek the Next Generation, Some Racing or Pimp my ride show, and the Man Show.
Its horrid. Tell me how I can remap my keyboard in XP or something slightly useful.
EdogLost @ Oct 13th 2006 12:10PM
I have always loved watching Tec TV and even spent some time with G4. Why do they continue to destroy such good shows? Attack of the show!! I used to watch this show every night and then they cut out Rose. Then I found new love in Perera and his witty interaction with Sara. What happened to the shows I used to love. The fact that they just pump more and more star trek into this network wasn't going to save anything. Adding a sexy surfer girl to AOTS and dumping Web off of xplay what are they thinking. Now I still flip through to g4 from time to time hoping that I will catch something intellectually stimulating. Nay, I am forced to watch re-runs of the man show and some interactive Star Trek that makes no sence to me. Long live Systm, and I will never podcast the daily nut!!
Robotic House Plant @ Oct 13th 2006 12:11PM
"Then they stopped showing the hilarious "Starcade" gameshow from the early/mid 80's (grand prize on one of the episodes - a ROBOT!)."
How funny is that. You may have caught the episode I was on. My show was either the first or the among the first to feature the RB5X robot as the grand prize.