G4 Drops TechTV Name

MrM writes "According to the latest press release from G4techTV, G4 will drop the TechTV name in mid-February 2005. This comes as a major step to the old TechTV viewers, as the focused content has become gaming-oriented once more. G4 also released a copy of their "redesigned" logo, but quickly pulled it off the web after release." The article also includes details of "two new series, "Formula D" and "Girls Gone Wired." Formula D appears to be coverage of Drift Racing (because obviously gamers love that), and unfortunately Girls Gone Wired appears to be exactly what you'd expect: Guys ogling video game characters in a beauty pageant.

Re:You might wanna check out the G4 forums.

[ePhil_One]

Much more in detail about WHY there dropping the techtv name too, evedently people where actually calling them saying things like "You killed techtv, so why dont you drop the name" so there PR department said they should....

Why I'm sure some folks were, given the big change in focus, but its very common in corporate renaming to run both names for a while. Its so people understand "its the same product, new name". Otherwise folks would be calling their cable companies complaining that they want their TechTV channel back, and to dump that new G4 channel.

X-Play: the only thing worth watching on G4.

[2Flower]

I used to watch Judgment Day for my video game reviews (beats forking money over to gamespot...) until I realized how boring and biased it can be. X-Play makes the whole "self-effacing sarcastic gamer culture game reviews" gimmick work without being as stupid as the other shows on G4 where the cast and writers clearly don't understand games.

What I'm wondering now is: When G4 folds and dies (which WILL happen, and this announcement only speeds the process) will X-Play be able to pack up and move to another channel, like Spike? Or are they directly funded by the channel rather than simply a company contracted to produce a show?

It's all about market penetration

[BobPaul]

Now they are going further away from the right thing. Getting rid of more shows, and adding lame ones.

G4 never intended to carry the TechTV shows. As an astute commenter correctly predicted [slashdot.org] in response to the /. article Inside TechTV [slashdot.org] all G4 wanted was to get their channel aired on more cable networks. They bought TechTV for the market penetration it had spent years acquiring it and for nothing else.

Re:Are you kidding??

[Anonymous Coward]

You guys are complaining to the wrong bunch, we're the choir. If you want the execs to take notice, write letters, make petitions, etc.. and in this context, include your age. Let them know they're quite mistaken about their core demographic. And if they don't listen, let's push the network into obscurity. How? Tell your computer illiterate neighbour that tech tv isn't worth the air it's broadcasted over, and so on. It's not much, but it's a start.

Re:SOB....

[Geek of Tech]

It seemed to start out slowly, but then it snowballed.

Megan Morrone. Gone.....
Chris Pirillo. Gone.....
Leo Laporte.
Patrick Norton
Yoshi (I think... haven't watched in a while...)

Half a dozen others I can't remember (until I get some sleep....)

Goodbye, TSS, CFH, Tech Live (The only news program I watched) and Thunderbirds. Goodbye Netcam Network, Call in Friday and Help-a-thons. I loved TechTV when it was still Tech.