Geeks everywhere were upset when it was announced that the popular G4 channel shows X-Play and Attack of the Show! would be canceled, and that the channel itself was to be re-branded as a channel aimed toward an “upscale” male audience, later confirmed to be called Esquire Network.
The final change was set to take place on September 23rd, but like a wrongly convicted man being saved from the electric chair by a phone call seconds before the switch was to be flipped, a last minute announcement has changed things. Now, instead of G4 it will by the Style channel being re-branded as Esquire Network.
The change of heart seems to be because Style is available in 75 million homes as opposed to G4’s 62 million, and also because it makes more sense to give Style the makeover.
Similarly to when it was announced that G4 was changing, some Style shows will continue on Esquire while others will either be canceled or moved to another more fitting channel in parent company NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment Group’s stable. While as many Style employees as possible will be given new jobs within the company either at Esquire or another channel, as many as 100 layoffs could still result.
As for G4, what’s this mean for canceled shows like the above mentioned X-Play and Attack of the Show! or other geek-friendly programming? Well, that’s unclear. All we know so far is that the channel is going to remain as is for the “foreseeable future.”
“As is” is a bunch of repeats of shows like American Ninja Warrior, Campus PD, Cops, X-Play, Heroes, LOST, Quantum Leap, and the occasional movie. At the moment, it’s said to be highly unlikely that new original shows will be invested in. No word on if this also means that no money will be pumped into bringing back old shows or not, now that G4’s life has been spared.
What do you think should happen with G4 now that it’s not being turned into Esquire Network? Brand new shows? Revival of Attack of the Show! and/or X-Play? Maybe even a return to its TechTV roots?
Speak loud, and perhaps NBCUniversal shall hear.
[Source: THR]
I just want an entirely new channel that’ll take us back to the way G4 used to be before it became all about re-runs and what not.
Comment by Travis LeBlanc — September 11, 2013 @ 9:34 am
Just bring back the shows that were cancelled like X-Play or attack of the show
Comment by Chris Turner — September 11, 2013 @ 1:10 pm
As well as new programming
Comment by Chris Turner — September 11, 2013 @ 1:15 pm
Would love to see it be either early G4 or TechTV like. None of this Cops and other crap. I might like American Ninja Warrior but Id rather see Portal(old G4 show) or well anything Game/Computer related on it.
Comment by scoobydiesel — September 11, 2013 @ 1:37 pm
Chris Hardwick and Legendary could buy it and make it Nerdist TV. I’m sure he has a good relationship with a lot of the people who were previously on G4/TechTV and other people who would be a great fit for that kind of content. Realistically though I imagine the actual financial gains of buying/running a TV network vs creating web content are probably not enough to make it worth the risk.
Comment by demonstrable — September 11, 2013 @ 4:31 pm
I like the ownership you’ve nominated. Add in a few original inexpensive shows, and review classic nerd type shows that people (i.e. tweens and millenials), HAVEN’T seen, and voila profit.
Shows that Sci-Fi should’ve tried to buy the rights to like, Voyagers!, Wizards and Warriors (although terribly campy now), buy some excellent (and cheap) older movie rights as well, like Battle Beyond the Stars and stuff like that…for that matter why not just make this the 70s and/or 80s channel?
Comment by Zombietroy — September 12, 2013 @ 2:01 am
Maybe they can rebrand it as “G4 by Esquire”, and in the process revive both Attack of the Show and X Play.
Comment by Matt Norcross — September 13, 2013 @ 11:08 pm
I want to see it go back to the way it was when it was Tech TV. Bring back the geek programs.
Comment by Ernest Kent — September 28, 2013 @ 10:51 am
i want it to go back to what it was a few years ago, when it was all about the gamer, gaming shows like attack of the show, x-play and cheat with only a few non gameing related shows. THAT is what G4 needs to be, FOR THE GAMER BY THE GAMER!
Comment by Adam beasley — December 2, 2013 @ 8:25 pm
I miss Attack of the Show so much. Especially when Kevin was on it. They could at least bring it back as a weekly program. I kept Dish Network for years simply because they offered G4. Once AOTS was cancelled I switched to Directv to get their new subscriber discounts. G4 without AOTS or Xplay is nothing. Look how big the industries that AOTS covered are. You’re telling me you can’t make money out of that? Figure it out!
Comment by lawgone — December 12, 2013 @ 3:32 pm
I don’t get it. Can’t Esquire/Style still have “tech” shows, like X-Play?! Is there anyone who wouldn’t watch esquire because of X-Play?!? Every man child and adult plays video games, even pro sports athletes to famous actors who are more stylish and GQ like than anyone! We all need geeks to tell us what games to play and to show us the new tech coming!
I am more likely to never watch the channel again without Xplay. Which isn’t big sacrifice from the little who would care. Put 95% crap that you want, but keep Xplay and allow them to cover conventions and what not. I mean this isn’t “development” or “moving on” this is setting back man 10-20 years back when gamers didn’t matter to mainstream media. Do they really think high class guys don’t want to see the new tech and have a very hotter nerd chick tell them which games to play?! New games and things of that nature better make their way into new lineup. I really hope someone buys rights to xplay and gets morgan back.
Hell I would settle for a new show, and build new memories with or without any of my beloved hosts and co-hosts. I just can’t believe that after all this time, they never cared about the fans who made them what they are today and the TV shows who made them the Network they are. Why would anyone start following them now after what they did to all of us! If I was an Esquire type guy I wouldn’t watch the channel, cause in 10 years they are going to through me out, and then I wouldn’t know what watch to buy or what nudie movies to buy.
Comment by Matt — December 28, 2013 @ 3:01 am
I agree, and in between this great programming that has been proposed, they should have Video Game walk throughs done in correspondence with Rooster Teeth. They make good, enjoyable content, and have good connection with the kids.
Comment by Nothercloth — April 17, 2014 @ 1:22 am
Tech TV and G4 were separate channels. “It” was never Tech TV. They merged the 2 channels and rebranded them G4/Tech TV then just G4. I am with you though. They need to have the types of shows that made us watch G4 AND Tech TV. Screen Savers and Xplay type shows should be what this channel is all about, like it was when we liked it
Comment by John J. McCalister Jr. — June 16, 2014 @ 5:24 pm
I want the tech tv roots back.
Comment by Daniel Gaines Jr — September 30, 2014 @ 9:18 pm
Bring back tech tv! I remember the anticipation of the network merge to g4, as i even stayed up late to watch it happen. Unfortunately, its been a downhill ride ever since. I loved Call for help and Screen Savers. To bad for this channel…
Comment by Aaron — November 22, 2014 @ 3:39 am