G4techTV

G4techTV was a short-lived American cable and satellite channel resulting from a merger between Comcast-owned G4 and TechTV. The network officially launched on May 28, 2004.

This article is about the defunct US television channel. For the Canadian version, see G4 (Canadian TV channel).

G4techTV
CountryUnited States
HeadquartersLos Angeles, California
Ownership
OwnerG4 Media
History
LaunchedMay 28, 2004 (2004-05-28)
ClosedFebruary 15, 2005 (2005-02-15)
Replaced byG4

History

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 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 (now called G4 Canada), the Canadian affiliate of G4techTV, on August 16, 2004; the series ended on February 26, 2007. The Lab with Leo Laporte replaced Call for Help in April 2007 before ending in August 2008. The Canadian produced version of the show was briefly aired in the United States from August 2005 to January 2006, though individual episodes could have been purchased through Google Video in the U.S.

On November 11, 2004, G4techTV announced that many of its employees, including Alex Albrecht 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, along with its weekly news program Pulse. Unscrewed'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, and the network's name changed to just G4.

On December 31, 2014, NBCUniversal discontinued all operations for G4; it was later relaunched on November 16, 2021, under Comcast Spectacor until that too closed on November 16, 2022.

G4techTV Canada
G4techTV studio in Canada

The G4techTV Canada channel launched on May 28, 2004, through a partnership with G4 Media, Rogers Media and Shaw Communications, as a domestic Canadian channel called G4techTV Canada. It was similar to G4techTV, but with more of an emphasis on technology-related programming per its CRTC licence requirements. G4techTV Canada kept the G4techTV name until mid-2009 when TechTV was dropped from the network's name to simply become G4 Canada.

Shows

The shows listed below reflect the schedule of G4techTV until February 15, 2005, when the network's name was reverted to G4.[1]

Notes
  1. G4 and TechTV Merger FAQ
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