G4 Media
Encyclopedia
G4 Media, Inc. is the parent company of G4
, a 24-hour cable
and satellite
channel
originally dedicated to video games. NBCUniversal holds a controlling interest
in G4 Media, with Dish Network
holding a minority interest
of approximately 12%. Prior to the Comcast NBC merger
, Comcast
owned the network.
In early 2004, G4 Media (at the time owned entirely by Comcast) announced the purchase of a controlling interest in TechTV
. On May 28, 2004, G4 and TechTV merged into a hybrid network called G4techTV
. EchoStar (which held a minority interest in TechTV and owned Dish Network) retained partial ownership of the combined entity.
The new network leaned more toward the gaming programming that was featured on G4 than the technology
side that was featured on TechTV, prompting petition
s and complaints from disaffected TechTV fans. On February 15, 2005, TechTV was officially dropped from the network name in the United States
, leaving only three TechTV shows, X-Play
, Anime Unleashed
(removed indefinitely as of March 2006) and The Screen Savers
(later rebranded as Attack of the Show!
). The network is currently called G4, and now focuses on general male interest programming.
G4 Media used to hold a 33.3% minority interest in G4 Canada, G4's Canadian counterpart.
On October 13, 2006, Comcast announced that it will consolidate G4, bringing it under E!
Networks. G4's executive staff moved into E!'s Los Angeles
offices and layoffs occurred.
G4 (TV channel)
G4, also known as G4 TV, is an American cable- and satellite-television channel originally geared primarily toward young adult viewers, originally based on the world of video games...
, a 24-hour cable
Cable television
Cable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...
and satellite
Satellite television
Satellite television is television programming delivered by the means of communications satellite and received by an outdoor antenna, usually a parabolic mirror generally referred to as a satellite dish, and as far as household usage is concerned, a satellite receiver either in the form of an...
channel
Television station
A television station is a business, organisation or other such as an amateur television operator that transmits content over terrestrial television. A television transmission can be by analog television signals or, more recently, by digital television. Broadcast television systems standards are...
originally dedicated to video games. NBCUniversal holds a controlling interest
Controlling interest
Controlling interest in a corporation means to have control of a large enough block of voting stock shares in a company such that no one stock holder or coalition of stock holders can successfully oppose a motion...
in G4 Media, with Dish Network
Dish Network
Dish Network Corporation is the second largest pay TV provider in the United States, providing direct broadcast satellite service—including satellite television, audio programming, and interactive television services—to 14.337 million commercial and residential customers in the United States. Dish...
holding a minority interest
Minority interest
Minority interest in business is an accounting concept that refers to the portion of a subsidiary corporation's stock that is not owned by the parent corporation...
of approximately 12%. Prior to the Comcast NBC merger
Comcast NBC merger
The Comcast NBC merger occurred in 2009, when General Electric and Comcast entered a joint venture regarding NBCUniversal.The merger sparked debate across the country over topics such as Net Neutrality and Media Consolidation.-Merger proposal:...
, Comcast
Comcast
Comcast Corporation is the largest cable operator, home Internet service provider, and fourth largest home telephone service provider in the United States, providing cable television, broadband Internet, and telephone service to both residential and commercial customers in 39 states and the...
owned the network.
In early 2004, G4 Media (at the time owned entirely by Comcast) announced the purchase of a controlling interest in TechTV
TechTV
TechTV was a 24-hour cable and satellite channel based in San Francisco featuring news and shows about computers, technology, and the Internet. In 2004, it merged with the G4 gaming channel which ultimately dissolved TechTV programming...
. On May 28, 2004, G4 and TechTV merged into a hybrid network called G4techTV
G4techTV
G4techTV was a cable and satellite channel resulting from a merger between Comcast-owned G4 and TechTV. The headquarters is based in Los Angeles...
. EchoStar (which held a minority interest in TechTV and owned Dish Network) retained partial ownership of the combined entity.
The new network leaned more toward the gaming programming that was featured on G4 than the technology
Technology
Technology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, and procedures. The word technology comes ;...
side that was featured on TechTV, prompting petition
Petition
A petition is a request to do something, most commonly addressed to a government official or public entity. Petitions to a deity are a form of prayer....
s and complaints from disaffected TechTV fans. On February 15, 2005, TechTV was officially dropped from the network name in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, leaving only three TechTV shows, X-Play
X-Play
X-Play is a TV program about video games, known for its reviews and comedy skits...
, Anime Unleashed
Anime Unleashed
Anime Unleashed was an anime block that was broadcast on the American cable TV network, G4. The block was placed on the original TechTV in early 2003 and moved to G4techTV after the two networks merged...
(removed indefinitely as of March 2006) and The Screen Savers
The Screen Savers
The Screen Savers was a live American TV show on TechTV. The show launched concurrently with the channel ZDTV on May 11, 1998. The Screen Savers originally centered around computers, new technologies, and their adaptations in the world...
(later rebranded as Attack of the Show!
Attack of the Show!
Attack of the Show! is an American live television program shown weeknights on G4, G4 Canada and Fuel TV in Australia. The program is hosted by Kevin Pereira and Candace Bailey...
). The network is currently called G4, and now focuses on general male interest programming.
G4 Media used to hold a 33.3% minority interest in G4 Canada, G4's Canadian counterpart.
On October 13, 2006, Comcast announced that it will consolidate G4, bringing it under E!
E!
E! Entertainment Television is an American basic cable and satellite television network, owned by NBCUniversal. It features entertainment-related programming, reality television, feature films and occasionally series and specials unrelated to the entertainment industry.E! has an audience reach of...
Networks. G4's executive staff moved into E!'s Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
offices and layoffs occurred.