According to a report in Variety, G4 as we know it could be ending.
The report leads off with the statement “G4 is going less geek, more chic.” It goes on to say:
“The NBCUniversal-owned cabler is undergoing a rebranding, according to sources, that could involve a name change and take G4 in a direction reminiscent of GQ, the magazine for the “modern male” whose interests span beyond the dorm room or messy bachelor pad. The guy-centric net is mulling a more sophisticated look while remaining true to its tech and vid game roots. Brand refresh aims to bow in early 2013.”
This is bad news for American gamers that get a share of their gaming news from television.
We don’t need another cable channel changing directions from their niche in an effort to air more general programming. While people seem to have become drawn to channels like TLC and A&E, which have strayed far away from their original mandate, they are virtually unwatchable.
Hopefully NBC Universal, who owns the cable channel, does not shift focus too much and lose the video game and technology aspect of G4.
The Variety article continued that NBCU aims to make G4 “a more sophisticated look while remaining true to its tech and vid game roots.”
G4 in Canada, which shares some of the same programming, is a separate entity and likely won’t be affected by any shift with the exception of losing any programming cancelled by NBCU in the shift.
The brand refresh looks to be taking place in early 2013.
In reference to G4, fine let them go to being yet another drab reality “let’s repeat cops for another 2 more extra hours” channel. NBCU has completelly screwed us of what was a decent channel before hand when it was just “TechTV” I enjoyed TechTV, Leo Laporte, and The Screensavers, and a brief Anime segement and What’s happening in Japan. NOW we get for 7 to 8 hour is crap repeats of cops I don’t cops I want tech and even now with the gamer segemnt show has gone down hill, They cover SDCC and that’s about it for that as well I remember on TechTV There was at least 2 more on the convention circuit being talked about. Like Anime Expo, or SakuraCon, do we get that now? No, why ? Because it’s all about the corporations wanting to line thier wallets and the viewers who act like sheep and don’t take a stand just bend over and take it dry like the good little sheep that they are. GIVE US BACK OUR TECHTV! GIVE US DECENT PROGRAMMING TO WATCH!