The lights are on
The cable network, which was originally designed as a 24-hour video game station, has been moving away from its original format for some time. Now, reports have surfaced that G4 may receive a suave makeover -- with a name change for the network possible.
The entertainment industry bible Variety is reporting that NBCUniversal, which owns G4, is planning to rebrand the network, focusing on a more upscale, stylish format aimed at the "modern male." Variety says the format could be similar to the men's fashion and culture magazine GQ.
Since its inception, G4 has struggled to find an audience, though a few shows like its long-running video game/pop culture program Attack of the Show! and American Ninja Warrior have been successful. Recently, popular X-Play host Adam Sessler (and the G4 personality with the strongest ties to the game industry) parted ways with the network. It's not known if that parting has anything to do with the network's rebranding.
The network appointed a new general manager early in 2012, former NBC marketing executive Adam Stotsky.
While video games would likely remain a part of this new, lifestyle oriented approach, it appears that the network that was to be devoted to video games is moving farther away from its roots.
Source: Variety
Email the author Matt Helgeson, or follow on Twitter, and Game Informer.
I only watch X-play when they discuss a game I want. I saw all the Bruce Lee movies they show several hundred times a month a long time ago. F*** Cops. Matter of fact, f*** G4.
weired
they should rename it to COPS4
I still watch G4 and still love it, but they have been getting some terrible shows lately. The American Ninja Warrior is just stupid, who cares about the challengers bio's, they'll even go to a commercial after talking about the challenger. just play the show like the japanese do. Xplay is always good, But why Adam Sessler! that dude was cool. They gota add more diversity, more shows that are interesting, less reality shows. and more games, WAY more games. they should put tournaments on G4 to, shows in Asia are doing that and the youth love it.
Pretty lame. They better keep Ninja Warrior though.
The only show I found worth watching on that channel was Judgment, and they canned that a long time ago. They should get the competative gaming shows back on there. I'l love to watch WoW arena's while I play...WoW...
Then again, TV's just background noise in my house.
Start it back up again, Make it something every gamer would want to watch, MMORPG matches, Exclusive game previews, events, things like that, and a new season of jump city and continue cops, campus PD, and best of all Ninja Warrior.
um... lame
That sentence about turning more into a modern male channel, does that mean its going to be like the Spike Channel.