G4 (American TV network): Difference between revisions

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	* '']'' (syndicated, compilation of Nash Entertaiment's various ] and ] video shows)		* '']'' (syndicated, compilation of Nash Entertaiment's various ] and ] video shows)
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	* '']'' (Original 1960's series with pop-up trivia graphics added and "Spock Market" game. Syndicated.)		* '']'' (Original 1960's series with pop-up trivia graphics added and "Spock Market" game. Syndicated.)
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Revision as of 06:13, 4 October 2006

Television channel

G4
Ownership
Owner	G4 Media, Comcast Corporation

G4 is an American cable and satellite television channel originally geared toward male viewers aged 12–34 and 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 . It is headquartered in Los Angeles, California and owned by G4 Media (which, in turn, is owned primarily by Comcast). G4 is available in 57 million cable and satellite homes nationwide .

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.

On April 25, 2006, G4 was reported to be the least viewed basic cable network in America. However, G4 claims to be the #1 most podcasted cable network in America with 6 of its shows in iTunes Top 100 rankings. They also tout themselves as the fastest growing network on television for 2006..

Format

On September 19, 2005, it was reported by TVweek.com that former DirecTV executive Neil 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.

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 used with increasing frequency. As of February 2006, the logo transition and program reformatting appears to be virtually complete.

Variety.com reported, Now, under the aegis of Comcast and new prexy 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."

Criticism

The numerous changes to the network's programming have brought on a storm of criticism from longtime 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 TV.

Some people feel as well that G4's review shows are too biased against mostly Nintendo. One famous one would be Judgement Day's review for Rave Master which was a Gamecube only game with the following being said:

"...it's for Gamecube and based off of an anime I've never heard of, so those two things already made it crappy."

Many TechTV fans have expressed displeasure about G4's takeover of that channel, feeling that TechTV was essentially "destroyed" by G4's merger. It led to the cancellation of all but one of the remaining TechTV shows, X-Play, which currently also happens to be the highest rated show on G4 .

Much criticism followed the 2006 E3 show saying that it was mainly blatant self-promotion due to the constant references to G4 shows and new sets.

Website and message boards

Before, during, and after the merger, the website and message boards have changed in several extents - name changes, slight aesthetic changes, and numerous minor changes. However, on the message boards, it seems rules have changed in several extents to accommodate the newer TechTV fanbase, since their own message boards originally did not use graphics and image-extensive signatures. Signature size Limits have been enforced, and a strict one-image only policy has been implemented. Also, numerous other changes have been made - most likely to go along with the new "male oriented" look the network is trying to maintain, has allowed posting of external links to pornography , and posting of "real" guns - since such a thing was, for whatever reasons, not allowed prior to the new rule listings.

Category ordering has changed extensively - older shows, such as Portal, a show no longer continued by the G4, have had their discussion categories removed. Some forums have been merged together, and others removed entirely, due to lack of use or other, more debatable subjects.

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, and things of the sort adopted to try and petition the changes - amongst other things. Most, if not all Anti-G4 posts in their message boards, have usually ended with swift "flaming" and/or account banning of the poster by the mediators, who have been criticized as abusing their forum priveliges. Regardless, with hundreds of thousands of posts, the network and related website/community continues.

A redesign of the network's website, featuring a Flash interface and designed for broadband launched on April 23, 2006. The newest version of the site features a heavier focus on video, interactive TV, and podcast content, with the video content in Flash for universal browser compatibility.

G4techTV Canada

Also see 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 CRTC as a technology channel, the rename of February 15, 2005 did not take effect in Canada. Also, due to CRTC programming regulations, some programs which 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.

Current shows

Action Blast!
Arrested Development (syndicated)
Attack of the Show!
Cinematech (G4TV.com lists the show as being part of "Video Game Mash-Up". However, the show has yet to air in the block).
The Electric Playground
Filter
Game Makers (Repackaging classic "Icons" episodes)
Golden Girls (Reruns to air starting late December 2006)
Icons
Totally Outrageous Behavior (syndicated, compilation of Nash Entertaiment's various Fox and NBC video shows)
The Man Show (syndicated)
The Brady Bunch (Reruns to air starting late January 2007)
Star Trek 2.0 (Original 1960's series with pop-up trivia graphics added and "Spock Market" game. Syndicated.)
Star Trek: The Next Generation (syndicated)