Country | Canada |
---|---|
Broadcast area | Nationwide |
Headquarters | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
Programming | |
Picture format | 1080i (HDTV) (downscaled to letterboxed 480i for the SDTV feed) |
Ownership | |
Owner | Rogers Sports & Media (Branding licensed from NBCUniversal / Comcast) |
History | |
Launched | September 7, 2001 |
Closed | August 31, 2017 |
Former names | TechTV (2001–04) G4techTV (2004–09) |
G4 was a Canadian English-language specialty television channel owned by Rogers Media. The name was licensed from NBCUniversal, whose parent company Comcast formerly owned a minority stake in the channel. Based on the U.S subscription networks TechTV and G4, the channel was originally focused on technology-themed programming. [1]
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 U.S. television channel TechTV, 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 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 version, 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. [5] On February 15, 2005, less than a year after the merger, the American version 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]
In 2013, the American version was scheduled to be rebranded as the Esquire Network due to low ratings. [7] However, at the last minute, its parent company decided to rebrand Style Network instead due to the latter's more expanded pay-TV carriage. G4 Canada's social media channels went dormant but still active after that point, with its website remaining in the same design since the early 2010s (though new content continued to be cycled in). [8] [9] G4 Canada launched a high-definition feed of its own on December 4, 2014, [10] while its American counterpart ceased operations at the end of 2014.
The channel's sole first-run shows, EP Daily and Reviews on the Run ceased broadcast after December 2015, as G4 Canada shifted away from technology-themed programming to more general interest programming. [11] Much of the channel's schedule now consisted of series syndicated from other Rogers television channels, with the CRTC's required tech-related programming relegated to out-of-date library content aired in the morning hours. [12]
On July 5, 2017, Cartt reported via a Rogers representative that G4 would shut down on August 31, 2017, and that it would not be replaced with a new service. The channel shut down at midnight on that date. The channel space created by TechTV in 2001 ceased to exist shortly after. The representative cited "the current competitive television landscape" and a desire to focus on Rogers' "core specialty portfolio"; some of its programming were moved to Citytv. [13] The CRTC approved the revocation of G4's licence in August 2017. [14] On all cable providers, G4 was either replaced by OLN or TSC. By coincidence, G4's Canadian iteration outlasted both its American mother network and Esquire Network, G4's intended replacement, which ended all operations on June 28, 2017. Canada never received the limited relaunch of G4 from the United States in the fall of 2021 before its shutdown nearly a year later, though some of its content was available region-free via YouTube and Twitch.
The channel primarily aired technology and gaming-related programming acquired from its American counterparts, along with several Canadian-produced series. During its final years, G4 would air reruns of shows sourced from Rogers' sibling networks.
As a category 1 television service, G4 Canada carriage was mandatory for all digital cable and direct broadcast satellite providers in Canada in English-majority markets with channel capacity.
G4, under the name G4techTV, was broadcast internationally in Barbados. 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. The provider discontinued carriage before the network's shutdown.
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. At the height of its six-year run, TechTV was broadcast in 70 countries, reached 43 million households, and claimed 1.9 million unique visitors monthly to its website. A focus on personality-driven product reviews and technical support made it a cultural hub for technology information worldwide, still existing today online through its former hosts' webcasts, most notably the TWiT Network.
G4 was an American pay television and digital network owned by NBCUniversal and later Comcast Spectacor that primarily focused on video games.
Corus Entertainment Inc. is a Canadian mass media company. The company was founded in 1987 as Shaw Radio, Ltd. as a subsidiary of Shaw Communications and was spun-off from Shaw in 1999. It has prominent holdings in the radio, publishing, and television industries. Corus is headquartered at Corus Quay in Toronto, Ontario.
G4techTV was an American cable and satellite channel resulting from a merger between Comcast-owned G4 and TechTV. The network officially launched on May 28, 2004.
Speed was an American sports-oriented cable and satellite television network that was owned by the Fox Sports Media Group division of 21st Century Fox. The network was dedicated to motorsports programming, including auto racing, as well as automotive-focused programs.
G4 Media, LLC is an in-name only unit of NBCUniversal Television and Streaming which maintains the programming of G4, a defunct 24-hour cable and satellite channel dedicated to video games, along with its former competitor, TechTV/ZDTV. NBCUniversal holds a controlling interest in G4 Media, with Dish Network holding a minority interest of approximately 12% because its former parent company held a minority interest in TechTV and owned Dish Network. Prior to the Comcast/NBCUniversal merger, Comcast owned the network, previously named G4 Media, Inc.
Cooking Channel is a Canadian English language discretionary specialty channel majority-owned by Corus Entertainment. Dedicated to programming related to food and cooking, it serves as a spin-off of Food Network.
GameTV is a Canadian English language specialty channel owned by Anthem Sports & Entertainment.
The Pet Network was a Canadian English language Category B specialty channel owned by Stornoway Communications. The channel broadcast entertainment and information programming for children and adults primarily related to pets in the form of feature films, documentary films, television dramas, cartoons, docuseries, and more.
Community television in Canada is a form of media that carries programming of local community interest produced by a cable television company and by independent community groups and distributed by a local cable company.
Discovery Kids was a Canadian English language specialty television channel owned by Corus Entertainment and Discovery Communications.
Sportsman Channel is a Canadian English language Category B specialty channel owned by Keywest Marketing Ltd. and the Outdoor Sportsman Group subsidiary of Kroenke Sports and Entertainment. It airs entertaining and informative programming that showcases outdoor lifestyle & adventure, hunting and fishing. The network features trustworthy experts who offer instruction, product knowledge and the latest tips and techniques.
History2 is a Canadian English language discretionary specialty channel dedicated to airing historic and non-historical programming of military, science, and technology interest. The channel is owned by Men TV General Partnership, a subsidiary of Corus Entertainment, with its name licensed from the U.S. company, A&E Networks, owners of the brand.
Viewers Choice was a Canadian English language pay-per-view (PPV) and near video on demand service. It was owned by Viewers Choice Canada Inc., which at the time of its closure was majority-owned and managed by Bell Media, with minority partners Rogers Media and ESPN Inc., and had been carried by various cable and IPTV service providers, primarily in Eastern Canada.
TVA Sports is a Canadian French-language sports specialty channel owned by the Groupe TVA, a publicly traded subsidiary of Quebecor Media. The channel is a general-interest sports network, and the first major competitor to RDS, the only other French-language sports channel in the country.
Stingray iConcerts is a Canadian-based video-on-demand television channel broadcasting full-length live musical performances from various genres of music. The channel is owned by the Stingray Group.
Boomerang is a Canadian English language discretionary specialty channel owned by Corus Entertainment. It is a licensed version of the U.S. channel of the same name, which primarily broadcasts animated programming from the Warner Bros. Animation library, including Warner Bros. Cartoons and Hanna-Barbera productions among others, as well as contemporary reboots of classic franchises. The channel also occasionally broadcasts reruns of Cartoon Network original series.
A number of different controversies and criticisms have surrounded Comcast for various reasons over its recent history. Customers of the telecommunications company report low levels of customer satisfaction on both service and cost. Comcast has also had several customer service scandals, the most notorious of which featured a representative not allowing a customer to cancel his service. This clip went viral. Comcast has also been widely criticized, most publicly by Netflix, for its position against net neutrality, the principle that all traffic on the internet should be treated equally.
WWE Network is a Canadian English language discretionary specialty channel programmed by WWE and distributed by Rogers Sports & Media. Its programming consists entirely of the linear feed offered as part of the WWE Network video streaming service.
Fox Sports Racing is a motorsports-oriented cable network owned by the Fox Sports Media Group division of Fox Corporation. The network launched on August 17, 2013 as a replacement of the former cable network Speed for North American markets outside the United States, including Canada and the Caribbean.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)