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G4, also known as G4 TV, is an American television network, originally geared primarily toward young male adult viewers, originally based on the world of video games. Currently the channel has a focus on male-oriented programming, although video games are still represented by the channel.

Launched on April 24, 2002, G4 is headquartered in Los Angeles, California, United States, and owned by G4 Media, which is owned by NBCUniversal, whom Comcast (the network's original owner) acquired 51% of in early 2011.

In 2013, the network will be re-branded as the Esquire Channel and focus on programming aimed at "metrosexual viewers".

History

Early history

G4 was initially created by Comcast. The initial concept was to create a service similar to TechTV but "geared more toward MTV's demographics". The network was launched with thirteen original series.

The launch shows consisted of:

• Arena: a multi-player game competition between two teams of four players.
• 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.
• Game On: two hosts competed in video game action come to life with dire consequences for the loser.
• Sweat: focused on sports game news.
• Cheat!: tips and cheat codes on video games.
• Portal: focused on multiplayer online games.
• Pulse: news on the video-game industry.
• Judgment Day: currently known as Reviews on the Run, "two video-game gurus will opine on the latest entries."
• G4tv.com: an interactive talk show on video games.

G4 was created and 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 envisioned 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. 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. 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.

TechTV acquisition

As early as 2002, Comcast, the parent company of G4 dropped TechTV from its channel lineups, giving preference to its G4 network and reducing the value of TechTV in the hopes of a possible merger of the two networks. On March 25, 2004, Vulcan Inc. confirmed that they sold TechTV to G4 Media which merged both channels to become G4techTV. Days before the announced sale, Comcast made plans to close the original TechTV production facilities and workforce located in San Francisco, and offered new network headquarters in Los Angeles with openings for 80-100 of the TechTV employees available if they were willing to relocate. Hirschhorn headed the combined entity. Networks carrying both channels shut down the TechTV channel post-merger, while G4 enjoyed expansion onto systems carrying only TechTV and not G4 as a result of the merger.

On February 15, 2005, less than a year after the merger, the letters, "TechTV", were officially dropped from the channel's name in the U.S. and the channel became known again as G4. However, on the network's affiliate in Canada, the "TechTV" letters remained a part of the name until mid-2009, when the channel was renamed G4 Canada. The only remaining TechTV originated show on G4 is X-Play, which also featured Adam Sessler, who was part of TechTV since its creation in 1998 as ZDTV. Adam Sessler left on April 25, 2012. His co-host, Morgan Webb, remains the only TechTV employee still at the network, with Kevin Pereira, the final pre-merger G4 host, leaving the channel after the network's E3 2012 coverage in early June 2012.

Change in format and controversy

In September 2005, Neal Tiles replaced Hirschhorn as the channel's president. Tiles had previously been a senior marketing executive at DirecTV, Fox Sports and ESPN. He announced that G4 would be retooled as a male-oriented network, and that the channel would do away with the video game format. He stated that "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.'"

Comcast, the parent company of both G4 and E! television channels, 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 Ted Harbert, who had formerly run the E! channel. It was announced that the upper management of the G4 channel would relocate to the E! channel's Los Angeles office. On March 4, 2007, it was announced that the G4 Studios in Santa Monica, California, would close on April 15. Production of G4 programs was relocated to the Comcast Entertainment Group facility which housed E! and Style Network in the Wilshire Courtyard complex in the Miracle Mile neighborhood of Los Angeles (G4's original facility remains in use as an E! studio and office facility, mainly for that network's Chelsea Lately). As a consequence, many G4 employees involved in production were terminated. The sets of G4's original programs were also redesigned to fit within the new smaller spaces allocated to them.

Harbert gave his opinion at the time 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. Design Studios Onesize and yU+Co teamed up to rebrand the G4 network as part of the transition.

These changes to the network's programming would soon bring on a storm of criticism from TechTV/G4 fans, with many claiming that the channel has strayed too far from its gaming and technology roots, and have accused the channel of solely relying on shows like X-Play and Attack of the Show!. With most of the remaining G4 original shows having been severely altered, many saw this as G4's ongoing attempt to be a competitor to other male-oriented networks such as Spike.

Blocks and events

In 2007, G4, in association with Earth911, launched an electronic- waste-recycling campaign called Gcycle. As Comcast acquired NBCUniversal in 2011 (thus making G4 a part of NBCUniversal), Gcycle is one of NBC's Green is Universal's initiatives.

In June 2008, G4 launched G4 Rewind. This block showed older episodes of X-Play, Judgment Day, Cheat, G4tv.com, Arena, Portal, G4's Training Camp and GameMakers. G4 Rewind left the schedule when the summer was over and returned for Daytime reruns for older episodes of X-Play in June 2009 until January 2010. In May 2009, G4's website was completely redesigned with a more prominent role of gaming as the intended purpose. Since the redesign of the website, G4's blog, TheFeed, has been overhauled as well. On July 31 a new web video game discussion series, TheFeed: Nightcap debuted. On August 28, 2009 TheFeed Nightcap was renamed Feedback. It was announced during Comic-Con 2010 that G4 would be the exclusive broadcaster of Marvel Anime which aried in 2011. During the week of July 26, 2010 - August 1, 2010 G4 changed its logo to 4G as a promotion for Sprint Nextel's next generation wireless internet service. On the week of April 17–23, 2011; as G4 is now part of the NBCUniversal family of networks, G4 has recolored its logo to solid green for the company's "Green is Universal" initiative, and will switch to their green logo for future "Green is Universal" weeks in November and the coming years.

Layoffs and cut-backs

On February 17, 2009, it was reported that G4 intended to cut back its original content programming. X-Play would be reduced to three nights a week while Attack of the Show! would be cut to four nights a week. Consequently, a number of the staff and production crew involved in the shows would be laid off. Layla Kayleigh also left G4 in April after Neal Tiles announced that her contract would not be renewed.

DirecTV drops G4

DirecTV announced that they were removing G4 from its channel lineup on November 1, 2010. DirecTV cites low interest in their subscriber base and Nielsen ratings as the primary reason for dropping of the channel. DirecTV commented that they were "...unable to reach an agreement to continue carrying the G4 channel and it has been removed from the DirecTV channel lineup."

On October 30, 2010, Attack of the Show! host Kevin Pereira echoed Comcast's sentiments about the decision, "G4 has tried to make this same deal for over 3 years but DirecTV has rejected this , claiming that they do not see the value in G4."

Reported sale

It was reported that the UFC and WWE were in separate talks to buy G4 in 2011. Talks with both companies apparently fell through, and UFC eventually partnered with Fox, while WWE is in the process of launching their own network.

Changes in 2012

On January 5, 2012, Neal Tiles stepped down as CEO. He was replaced by former NBC marketing chief Adam Stotsky.

Long time employees Adam Sessler and Kevin Pereira left the network during the first half of 2012. Sessler now works at Revision 3 Games.

On May 20, 2012, G4 was given a new graphics package overhaul, still utilizing the current G4 logo, except it's moved to the bottom right corner instead of the top, and made transparent. This overhaul also discontinues the bottom ticker that's been used during programming for news, and the "G-Spot" shorts shown during commercial breaks. In December 2012, G4 removed the reality television series, Cheaters from their network.

Termination of studio programming and Esquire Channel

On October 26, 2012 it was announced that X-Play and Attack of the Show! would cease by the end of 2012. This would end all of G4's studio programming, leaving it only airing acquired and syndicated programming. Reports of G4 rebranding itself in 2013 into an upscale men's channel appeared previous to the recent programming changes. In December 2012 NBCUniversal inked a deal with Hearst Corporation, the owner of Esquire magazine, to turn G4 into the Esquire Channel, which will air shows aimed at a metrosexual audience about travel, cooking, fashion and some game-related shows. X-Play and Attack of the Show aired their final original episodes on January 23, 2013.

G4 HD

G4 HD is a 1080i high definition simulcast of G4 that launched on December 8, 2008. It is carried nationally on Dish Network and regionally on AT&T U-verse, Cablevision, among other providers in select areas.

Relationship with international G4 channels

A Canadian channel called G4 Canada was launched in 2001 as TechTV Canada by Rogers Media (33.34%), Shaw Communications (33.33%) and TechTV US (33.33%). It uses the G4 trademark under license from NBCUniversal, and initially both channels shared a focus on technology and video game-related programming. However, both channels, since the renaming to G4, deviated considerably from their original roots, although there is still connection between the two channels since many of G4's current programs, including newer series such as That's Tough (although no longer airs since April 2012), Bomb Patrol Afghanistan, Web Soup, Campus PD, and Proving Ground, do air on G4 Canada. Some of their programming blocks parallel each other, such as the Anime Unleashed block paralleling G4 Canada's Anime Current block, and the Midnight Spank block paralleling the ADd block.

G4 hosts

• Matt Iseman, co-host of American Ninja Warrior
• Jonny Moseley, co-host of American Ninja Warrior
• Angela Sun, correspondent for American Ninja Warrior

G4 Former hosts

• Kristin Adams, correspondent for X-Play
• Alex Albrecht, correspondent for Attack of the Show!
• Candace Bailey, co-host of Attack of the Show!
• Blair Butler, comic book correspondent for "Fresh Ink" on Attack of the Show!
• Jessica Chobot, correspondent for X-Play and Attack of the Show!
• Chris Gore, movie correspondent for "DVDuesday" on Attack of the Show!
• Chris Hardwick, host of Web Soup
• Grace Helbig, correspondent for Attack of the Show!
• Blair Herter, co-host of X-Play and correspondent for Attack of the Show!
• Sarah Lane, co-host Attack of the Show
• Chi-Lan Lieu, co-host The Screen Savers to 2005.
• Matt Mira, correspondent for "Gadget Pr0n" on Attack of the Show!
• Brendan Moran, co-host Attack of the Show!/The Screen Savers
• Olivia Munn, co-host Attack of the Show
• Kevin Pereira, co-host The Screen Savers/Attack of the Show
• Kevin Rose, co-host Attack of the Show
• Weston Scott, correspondent for Attack of the Show!
• Adam Sessler, co-host of X-Play 1998-2012 and regular appearances on Attack of the Show!
• Tiffany Smith, correspondent for X-Play and Attack of the Show!
• Sara Underwood, anchor of "The Feed" on Attack of the Show!
• Morgan Webb, co-host of X-Play

See also

Template:Multicol

• TechTV
• G4techTV
• G4 Canada
• G4 Rewind
• List of programs broadcast by G4

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References

1. G4 Aims Originals at Video Game Fans, Multichannel New 4/14/2002
2. ^ Rose, Lacey (December 7, 2012). "NBCUniversal, Hearst Corp. Close Deal to Rebrand G4 as Esquire Channel". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
3. Sieberg, Daniel (2002-04-22). "24-Hour Video Game Channel Set to Launch — Some Analysts Wonder if G4 Will Find an Audience", CNN Accessed 2009-10-18.
4. G4 Network Announces All-Original Programming Slate; Thirteen Original Weekly Series Featuring Everything for Gamers., Goliath 09-APR-02
5. Charles Hirschhorn, Forbes.com
6. Pressing Buttons 10.17.06: The Rise and Fall of G4 (PART 1), 411mania.com 0.17.2006
7. ^ Williamson, Debra (June 10, 2002). "G4 widens playing field for advertisers". Ad Age. Retrieved January 18, 2013.
8. Comcast buys TechTV, San Francisco Chronicle March 26, 2004.
9. G4 Drops TechTV Handle, Broadcasting & Cable 1/10/2005.
10. "Adam Sessler Out at G4". April 25, 2012. Retrieved April 25, 2012.
11. G4 - About - Management - Neal Tiles - President
12. Neal Tiles bio
13. Martin, Denise (2006-05-08). "Cablers Make Play for Gamer Demos — G4 Evolving into a Lifestyle Channel, Peppered with Vidgame Culture". Variety. Accessed 2009-10-18.
14. Comcast Broadens Harbert's Role, Broadcasting & Cable, 10/12/2006
15. E! pwns G4, Boing Boing OCTOBER 12, 2006
16. G4 Not Getting Axed, Voodoo Extreme, Oct 16, 2006
17. Design Studios Onesize and yU+Co Team Up To Rebrand G4 Network, Broadcast Newsroom, June 20, 2007
18. Earth 911
19. Wilson, Mark (April 22, 2007). "Earth Day Roundup: Not Lame, We Promise". Gizmodo. Retrieved October 18, 2009.
20. Open Source - May 2009
21. Welcome To An All-New, All-Different Version Of G4tv.com's TheFeed! TheFeed Posted July 9, 2009 - By Raymond Padilla
22. TheFeed Nightcap, July 31st -- The Pilot Episode! TheFeed Posted July 31, 2009 - By Andrew Pfister
23. G4 Video - G4tv.com's Feedback
24. Four Marvel Animated Series Coming To G4 In 2011 The Feed
25. G4 Channel to Become 4G in a Week of Sprint Promotion New York Times
26. G4's "Open Source", March 2, 2009
27. G4's "X-Play", "Attack of the Show" Cut Back, Variety, February 17, 2009
28. DirecTV Pulls G4 from Lineup - Move Comes After Failed Carriage Negotiations with Comcast, Variety, October 31, 2010
29. DirecTV drops G4 Entertainment Weekly November 1, 2010
30. DirecTV Drops Comcast's G4 The Hollywood Reporter November 1, 2010
31. DirecTV G4 statement
32. • "UFC Looking to Buy G4 Cable Channel, Spike Execs Prepare to Move On". MMA Fighting. June 8, 2011.
    • "WWE: Is the G4 Channel the Answer to WWE's Proposed TV Network?". Bleacher Report. June 9, 2011.
33. Andreeva, Nellie (January 5, 2012). "G4 President Neal Tiles Steps Down". Deadline. Retrieved January 6, 2012.
34. Andreeva, Nellie (January 5, 2012). "Former NBC Marketing Chief Adam Stotsky Named General Manager Of G4". Deadline. Retrieved January 6, 2012.
35. MacKenzie, Carina (October 26, 2012). "'Attack Of the Show' and 'X-Play' canceled by G4". Zap2It. Retrieved October 26, 2012.
36. Marechal, A.J. (September 6, 2012). "NBCU eyes upscale makeover for G4". Variety. Retrieved October 30, 2012.
37. AT&T U-verse HD Channels
38. "HDTV channels".

External links

• Official website
• G4 Canada
• G4 Rewind

• American television networks
• Comcast Corporation
• G4 (television)
• NBC Sports
• NBCUniversal
• NBCUniversal networks
• Television channels and stations established in 2002
• English-language television stations in the United States
• Orphan initialisms
• X-Play
• Companies based in Los Angeles, California
• Esquire (magazine)