G4 Media, LLC was an in-name only unit of NBCUniversal Television and Streaming which maintained the programming of G4, a defunct 24-hour cable and satellite channel dedicated to video games, along with its former competitor, TechTV/ZDTV. NBCUniversal held a controlling interest in G4 Media, with Dish Network holding a minority interest of approximately 12% because its former parent company held a minority interest in TechTV and owned Dish Network. Prior to the Comcast/NBCUniversal merger, Comcast owned the network, previously named G4 Media, Inc.
History
In early 2004, G4 Media (at the time owned entirely by Comcast) announced the purchase of a controlling interest in TechTV. On May 28, 2004, G4 and TechTV merged into a hybrid network called G4techTV. EchoStar (which held a minority interest in TechTV and owned Dish Network) retained partial ownership of the combined entity.
The new network leaned more toward the gaming programming that was featured on G4 than the technology side that was featured on TechTV, prompting petitions and complaints from disaffected TechTV fans. On February 15, 2005, TechTV was officially dropped from the network name in the United States, leaving only three TechTV shows, X-Play, Anime Unleashed (removed indefinitely as of March 2006) and The Screen Savers (later rebranded as Attack of the Show!). The channel's programming direction eventually was directed towards men with mostly acquired programs mixed with several original productions.
G4 Media used to hold a 33.3% minority interest in G4's Canadian counterpart.
On October 13, 2006, Comcast announced that it will consolidate G4, bringing it, E!, and the Style Network into a new combined entity later known as the Comcast Entertainment Group. G4's executive staff moved into E!'s Los Angeles offices and layoffs occurred.[1]
Programs produced by G4 Media
- 2 Months 2 Million (2009)
- American Ninja Warrior (2009–2013, transferred to Esquire Network; later, to NBC)
- Arena (2002–2005)
- Attack of the Show! (2005–2022)
- Blister (2002–2005)
- Bomb Patrol Afghanistan (2011–2012)
- Campus PD (2009–2012)
- Cheat! (2002–2009)
- Code Monkeys (2007–2008)
- Cinematech (2002–2007)
- Filter (2002–2006)
External links
References
- James Hibberd. G4 to move into E! TV Week, October 2006, retrieved December 12, 2012^
- A.J. Marechal. NBCU eyes upscale makeover for G4 Variety, September 6, 2012, retrieved October 30, 2012^
- Nellie Andreeva. Esquire Network's Launch Pushed To Summer