G4techTV

This article is about the defunct US television channel. For the Canadian version, see G4 Canada.
G4techTV
Launched 28 May 2004
Closed 15 February 2005
Owned by G4 Media
Slogan Stay Connected
Country United States
Headquarters Los Angeles, California
Replaced by G4

G4techTV was a cable and satellite channel resulting from a merger between Comcast-owned G4 and TechTV. The headquarters was in Los Angeles. The name changed back to G4 on February 15, 2005, in the United States.

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 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 (now called G4 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 U.S., but this ended on January 3, 2006, though individual episodes could have been purchased through Google Video in the US.

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 popular 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 its slogan (used until May 2012): TV That's Plugged In.

As of December 31, 2014, NBCUniversal has discontinued all operations for G4.

G4techTV in Canada

The G4techTV brand became available in Canada on March 28, 2004, through a partnership with G4 Media, Rogers Media and Shaw Communications, as a domestic Canadian channel called G4techTV Canada. It was similar to G4techTV, however with more of an emphasis on technology-related programming per its CRTC licence requirements. G4techTV Canada kept the G4techTV name until mid 2009 when it dropped the words "techTV" to simply become G4 Canada.

Shows

The shows listed below reflect the schedule of G4techTV until February 15, 2005 when the network's name was reverted to G4.[1]

Notes

  1. ↑ G4 and TechTV Merger FAQ
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