Despite some decently solid programming in the last decade, it hasn’t been an easy road for cable network G4. Formerly Tech TV, G4 launched in April of 2002 with eyes on conquering the gamer demographic. And it found success, primarily with personalities like Adam Sessler and Morgan Webb on the once-excellent X-Play, and later on with Kevin Pereira and Olivia Munn on Attack of the Show. Munn’s time on the show helped propel her to superstardom, leaving in 2010 (replaced by Candace Bailey) while Pereira dropped out to pursue other interests earlier this year. 2012 even saw Sessler, once something of a torch-bearer for the network, leave after a 14 year tenure.
It hasn’t helped that the network’s suffered layoffs, cutbacks and being dropped by major programming distributor DirecTV. Now, as the Comcast-owned network looks to be in a rebranding phase, it’s cancelling its two flagship shows. Via Coming Soon:
“‘Attack of the Show!’ and ‘X-Play’ have been important for G4, and we want to acknowledge the creative people who have helped inspire and showcase the phenomenon of gamer culture,” G4 Media General Manager Adam Stotsky said. “With more than 3,000 episodes aired between them, we have more than enough great material to honor these innovators and their amazing contributions as we bring both shows to a close.”
Shitty news, indeed. And it speaks to recent rumblings that G4 wants to abandon their gamer programming entirely, which could very well lead to heavier rotation for reality fare like Campus PD. One rumor making the rounds suggested the WWE considered buying G4 late last year with designs on converting it into their own network, so it’s possible Comcast is still looking to unload the channel outright. It’s a sad announcement for a variety of reasons, one in particular being no one’s yet told me what’ll become of ex-girlfriend Sara Underwood in all of this. In particular, this announcement doesn’t bode well for those of us who looked forward to G4 coverage of geek-centric events like E3 and San Diego Comic Con every year.
What do you think of this news? Is there an audience for the gamer-centric G4-programming of old? Will Sara Underwood ever return my faxes?