G4techTV
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G4techTV (May 28, 2004 - February 15, 2005) was a cable and satellite television channel resulting from a merger between Comcast-owned G4 and TechTV. The headquarters were based in Los Angeles, California. The merger is now seen to be non-existent, as the name changed back to G4 on February 15, 2005 in the United States.
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G4 and TechTV merger
On March 25, 2004, Comcast announced its plans to purchase TechTV, a channel devoted to computers and technology. The purchase was completed on May 10, 2004, allowing Comcast to merge their G4 station with the newly acquired TechTV, resulting in G4techTV. G4techTV officially launched in the United States and Canada on May 28, 2004.
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.
On November 11, 2004, G4techTV announced that many of its employees, including Alex Albrecht, Dan Huard, and Yoshi DeHerrera, were terminated. This came as a shock to many, and outrage and anger were expressed on the G4techTV forums. G4techTV also announced the cancellation of its late night variety show, Unscrewed with Martin Sargent. The show's host and supporting staff were terminated.
On February 15, 2005, less than a year after the merger, TechTV was officially dropped from the network's name. The channel is once again called G4 with the new subtitle video game television.
G4techTV Canada
G4techTV Canada is co-owned by G4 Media, Rogers Media, and Shaw Communications. Because of the co-ownership and licensing with the CRTC as a technology-related channel, the rename of February 15, 2005 has not yet taken effect in Canada.
Though G4techTV Canada and its United States counterpart share most of the same programming, there are differences. The most notable is Call for Help 2.0, a reincarnation of the original Call for Help. Due to CRTC restrictions, Anime Unleashed is not aired in Canada.
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
- Cheat!
- Cinematech
- The Electric Playground
- Filter
- G4 Sports
- G4tv.com
- Icons
- Judgment Day
- Players
- Robot Wars
- Sweat
- The Screen Savers
- X-Play
External links
- G4 official site (http://www.g4tv.com)
- G4techTV Canada (http://www.g4techtv.ca)
- G4 Forums (http://forums.g4tv.com)
- G4tv.com - Press Releases - Comcast Completes acquisition of TechTV (http://38.119.81.11/html/about/press/showrelease.asp?pressrelease_key=47)