G4 (Canada)

G4
G4 Canada logo
Launched	September 7, 2001 (2001-09-07)
Owned by	Rogers Media
Picture format	480i (SDTV)
Country	Canada
Broadcast area	National
Headquarters	Toronto, Ontario
Formerly called	TechTV (2001 (2001)–2004 (2004)) G4techTV (2004 (2004)–2009 (2009))
Website	www.g4tv.ca
Availability
Satellite
Bell TV	Channel 515
Shaw Direct	Channel 514
Cable
Available on many Canadian cable systems	Check local listings, channels may vary
IPTV
FibreOP	Channel 229
Bell Fibe TV	Channel 515
MTS	Channel 281
Optik TV	Channel 204
SaskTel	Channel 56

G4 is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Rogers Media. The name is licensed from NBCUniversal, whose parent company formerly owned a minority stake in the channel.

G4 broadcasts entertainment and information programming based on gaming, technology, and other general entertainment programs primarily aimed at young adults.^[1]

History

On November 24, 2000, through a joint venture, Rogers Media (33.34%), Shaw Communications (33.33%) and TechTV US (33.33%) were granted approval by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to launch a Canadian version of the US television channel TechTV, a service described by its nature of service as "providing programming about computing, technology and the Internet."^[2]

The channel launched on September 7, 2001 as the Canadian version of TechTV.

After months of speculation, on March 25, 2004, Comcast announced it would acquire TechTV US from Vulcan Programming Inc., with plans to merge TechTV with its own gaming-related channel, G4.^[3] As part of the purchase, Comcast acquired TechTV's 33.33% interest in the Canadian TechTV, spinning it off into its subsidiary G4 Media.

The transaction was completed on May 10, and the American services were merged into G4techTV on May 28, 2004.^[4] TechTV Canada would follow suit and be renamed G4techTV on the same date.^[5] On February 15, 2005, less than a year after the merger, the American G4techTV was renamed back to G4.

In June 2006, Shaw Communications sold its interest in the channel to the managing partner, Rogers Media. At an unknown date, Comcast also sold its interest to Rogers, giving it full ownership.^[6]

As the channel's name changed from TechTV to G4techTV, so did the channel's programming. Much like the American service, G4techTV Canada would acquire a mixture of the former TechTV and G4 programs, of which a number of those would be the younger-skewing gaming-related series such as Arena and Cinematech from the former channel, G4 US.

In 2006, the CRTC granted a license amendment allowing G4techTV Canada to broadcast drama and comedy programs, including animated series such as anime.^[7] Less than two months later, G4techTV Canada introduced Anime Current, a programming block consisting of anime series. It was the channel's first venture into the airing of scripted series. Later, in 2007, G4techTV Canada would begin to introduce more scripted series including Code Monkeys and The IT Crowd.

G4, 2009-present

In June 2009, G4techTV was renamed G4. However, the former brand was not completely phased out from station branding until late 2010.

This marked the shift towards a more entertainment-based schedule with less emphasis on technology, similar to its American counterpart, instead focusing primarily on gaming and other general entertainment geared towards a younger audience. Much of the technology-based programming was removed or scheduled during off-peak hours. New programming introduced included Adult Digital Distraction (ADd), a programming block consisting of comedy and animated series, many of which were non-technology based and sourced from the American cable channel, Adult Swim. Along with ADd, the channel would later add outdoor adventure programming, which come from other Rogers-owned channels, mainly from OLN, City and Omni, including Angry Planet and Mantracker in the fall of that year. Many notable programs from its American counterpart aired on G4 Canada on a daily basis until 2012, such as X-Play and Attack of the Show, and newer series such as That's Tough, Web Soup, Campus PD, and Proving Ground.

In the fall of 2011, all references to ADd was removed from the channel's website, however, the block remained on-air. As well, a vast majority of the programs included in the programming block, most notably, programs sourced from adult swim were removed from the schedule. This move was likely due to pressure from the CRTC during the channel's licence renewal in July 2011; referencing G4's divestiture from its original nature of service as a channel devoted to technology, the CRTC stated that G4's "programming is not in compliance with its nature of service definition" and that it detail measures "to ensure that the service is in compliance with its nature of service."^[8] Several Adult Swim programs made a return to the schedule in 2012 including Eagleheart, Squidbillies, and NTSF:SD:SUV::.

The American G4 was scheduled to be rebranded as Esquire Network, but its parent company NBCUniversal made a surprising announcement that Style Network would be the candidate to be revamped. The fate of this network under the G4 name is unknown with the drawing down of the American counterpart, though the network's CRTC remit requires it to maintain tech content, and the network has had to roll back some of its male-targeted programming in the past due to CRTC concerns.

Programming

Originally, when the channel launched in 2001 as TechTV, it consisted solely of technology and gaming related programming, mainly originating from its American counterpart, TechTV, along with Canadian programming. Such programming included Call for Help, The Screen Savers and TechLive.

Currently G4 Canada shows tech programming such as Reviews on the Run and EP Daily along with various tech themed syndicated shows. Extremely dated content such as old episodes of Call for Help is still featured on a daily basis.

Distribution

As a category 1 television service, it is mandatory for all digital cable and direct broadcast satellite providers in Canada that have the capacity to do so to carry the channel in markets where English is the majority language.

G4, under the name G4techTV, was broadcast internationally in the Barbados market. The government-owned Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation in Barbados switched from providing the American-based feed, in favour of the Canadian channel for its cable television network known as Multi-Choice TV. For unknown reasons, the channel has since been removed.

Logos

2001–2004	2004–2005	2005–2009	2009–present

See also

• G4
• TechTV

References

External links

• Official website