G4techTV


G4techTV was a short-lived American cable and satellite television network that operated from May 28, 2004 to February 15, 2005, formed by the merger of Comcast-owned G4, a channel focused on video games and gamer culture, and TechTV, a network dedicated to technology and interactive content.
Launched in 2002, G4 targeted young male viewers interested in video games, while TechTV, established in 1998, showcased in-depth coverage of emerging technologies, gadgets, and cybersecurity through programs like The Screen Savers. The acquisition of TechTV by Comcast from Vulcan Ventures was announced on March 25, 2004, with the deal including an equity interest for EchoStar to distribute the network via Dish Network. Under the leadership of G4 CEO Charles Hirschhorn, the combined network retained popular series from TechTV, such as Xplay and Call for Help, while introducing new content to capitalize on the growing convergence of gaming and technology.
By early 2005, G4techTV underwent a rebranding back to simply G4 to sharpen its focus on video gaming, reflecting a strategic shift toward its core demographic of 18- to 34-year-old males and away from broader tech topics.

History

On March 25, 2004, Comcast announced an agreement to acquire TechTV from Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, in a deal valued at approximately $300 million, as well as its upcoming merger of the network with G4. The acquisition was completed on May 10, 2004, and the combined network launched on May 28.
G4techTV kept shows from TechTV, such as The Screen Savers, as well as shows previously on G4, such as The Electric Playground. The merger caused one of TechTV's most prominent personalities, Leo Laporte, to leave the channel because of a contract dispute. Laporte had been the host of Call for Help, a call-in help show, which was cut after the merger. A new Call for Help series hosted by Leo Laporte began airing on G4techTV Canada, the Canadian affiliate of G4techTV, on August 16, 2004; the series ended on February 26, 2007. The Lab with Leo Laporte replaced Call for Help in April 2007 before ending in August 2008. The Canadian produced version of the show was briefly aired in the United States from August 2005 to January 2006, though individual episodes could have been purchased through Google Video in the U.S.
On November 11, 2004, G4techTV announced that many of its employees, including Alex Albrecht and Yoshi DeHerrera, were terminated. G4techTV also announced the cancellation of its late-night talk show, Unscrewed with Martin Sargent, along with its weekly news program Pulse. Unscrewed's host and supporting staff were terminated.
On January 11, 2005, CEO Charles Hirschhorn announced that, effective February 15, G4techTV's name would revert to G4 and receive a new presentation and programming primarily targeting male gamers aged 12–34. Hirschhorn intended to veer the network away from TechTV's older tech audience in favor of younger male viewers, and according to insiders, the "techTV" suffix was a temporary concession to cable operators, with a complete G4 brand being the ultimate goal. James Hibberd of TelevisionWeek, in hindsight, equated the merger to a real estate transaction to increase G4's circulation.

G4techTV Canada

G4techTV Canada was launched on May 28, 2004, as a rebranding of the existing TechTV Canada channel in response to the merger of the American TechTV and G4 networks. This adaptation operated as a joint venture between Rogers Broadcasting, Shaw Communications, and G4 Media. Following the 2004 cancellation of Call for Help in the United States, the channel aired a Toronto-produced revival beginning in August 2004. In 2007, the program was retitled The Lab with Leo Laporte, and production was moved to Greedy Productions in Vancouver. In mid-2009, the channel underwent another rebranding to simply G4 Canada, dropping the "techTV" suffix and outlasting the original American G4 network, which ceased operations in 2014; G4 Canada itself ended on August 31, 2017.

Shows

The shows listed below reflect the schedule of G4techTV until February 15, 2005, when the network's name was reverted to G4.
Anime Unleashed Arena Body HitsCheat! Cinematech The Electric Playground Eye Drops Filter Fresh GearFuture Fighting Machines G4 SportsG4techTV SpecialsG4tv.com Icons Invent This!Judgment Day Nerd NationPlayers PulseRobot Wars Sweat The Screen Savers ThunderbirdsUnscrewed with Martin Sargent