G4techTV

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This article is about the defunct US television channel. For the Canadian version, see G4techTV Canada.

G4techTV

Type	Cable network
Country	United States
Slogan	Stay Connected
Owner	G4 Media
Launch date	May 28, 2004
Closure date	February 15, 2005

G4techTV (May 28, 2004 – February 15, 2005) was a cable and satellite channel resulting from a merger between Comcast-owned G4 and TechTV. The headquarters were based in Los Angeles. The merger is now seen to be non-existent, as the name changed back to G4 on February 15, 2005 in the United States.

1 G4 and TechTV merger
2 G4techTV Canada
3 Shows
4 Notes

[edit] 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 and continues to air in Canada. The Canadian produced version of the show was briefly aired in the U.S., but this ended on January 3, 2006, though individual episodes can still be 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 the new subtitle Video Game Television, which was later shorted to Videogame TV and was later dropped in February 2006.

Current G4techTV Canada logo.

[edit] G4techTV Canada

G4techTV Canada is co-owned by G4 Media and Rogers Media. 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.