A few months ago when Comcast began to offer there Triple Play package (unlimited online, phone & cable for $99.99) I figured it would be cool if my wife & I upgraded to get the HBO package. Once we got hooked up with the upgrade I found after searching around I also now had access to numerous higher-numbered cable channels that I didn’t have before.
One channel in particular that I always wanted & now had access to was G4. As many of you know, this channel was once tagged the video gaming channel and even its moniker stands for “Games For Tv”.
And while I love the idea of a gaming channel, after checking out the channel, its overall presentation left a lot to be desired and quite a lot of the schedule had little to do with gaming at all. (This in part, due to G4 changing their focus off from being gaming-centered to more of a men’s lifestyle channel)
The sad part here is all the lost potential for this channel.
Prior to the current version of G4, Comcast had also bought out a rival “technology” station aka TechTv. When they first did the bought out, Comcast merged the two identities into one, creating G4TechTv, initially to capture both audiences.
What surprises me the most is, how could they mess up a seemingly easy idea?
I mean you would think making the TechTv- G4 merger a winning formula sounds simple enough; TechTv with its focused on technology and new gadgets, etc. plus G4 with gaming news… both with established and successful (well more leaning on TechTv vs. G4) simply on this premise alone one would think they would have a rock’n unstoppable combo. A no-brainer, right? Yet unfortunately for the company and us gamers, G4 couldn’t capitalize on this goldmine.
Instead what ended up was G4 laying off majority of the TechTv staff, shows and in the end, losing many of TechTv’s viewers that it could have tapped into. In what appears as a sign of over confidence and possibly envy, G4 kept its brand alive and thru the buy out killed out its best competition.
Which in itself, I could understand as an aspiring new entrepreneur and budding online marketing savy person.
Yet, by not improving and providing its own gaming viewers with enough fresh content, G4 appears to be going the role of a “tragedy” story arc… and it doesn’t look like it will get better anytime soon.
Now granted, shows like “Attack of the Show” can be entertaining… but with so much dry humor and rhetoric it amazes me that the shows producers don’t pump more life into the writers and staff.
And now with G4 diluting their brand even their own gaming niche is unclear. As viewers begin to evaporate its simple to see why management… who probably have no idea what a gaming channel should be… are quick to jump ship.
While I like the idea of a mens channel (afterall woman have Lifetime don’t they?) it appears that G4 doesn’t know how to mix a formula like this…. I mean, just look at their current line-up… from Star Trek to The Man Show.
Makes you want to say, “What gives?” doesn’t it? (God-forbid SpikeTv were to go on sale)
Which leads me to think, why do good ideas fail?
I mean at the root of it you would think with the millions of gamers out there building a gaming channel on that simple premise alone shouldn’t be that hard. I mean, look at the industry as a whole.
We are still dominating many forms of mass media and entertainment in terms of value, fans, and interaction. If you think about it a dedicated 24 hour gaming channel has so much potential. Just simply look at websites such as Gamespot where they have online videocasts of their latest review, previews etc, or look at syndicated shows like Electronic Playground, (which to G4’s credit is one show they still syndicate) you could just imagine the potential.
And oddly enough even their slot time is off. Putting their shows at weird hours like 11am, and 12 midnight might seem like hours that many gamers are up… (gamers are notoriously nocturnal) but what about prime time? Hello G4? Ever hear of “Must See TV?” Instead of showing their own proprietary content and providing cool shows at times people are most likely able to watch…shows like GameMakers, Attack of the Show, etc. aren’t there. But you sure can watch plenty of Star Trek & The Man Show? By relying on old formats, and killing off most of the video game related content, G4 has pretty much cut off any previous & potential viewers.
While I am a firm believer of being optimistic in the midst of the fall, it doesn’t look like G4 will improve any time soon, (and if things dont pick up who knows if it’ll be around long) which is simply a shame for what could have been.
One reasons I looked into this as a blog entry today was both Junj & I are really interested in making 2Gamers4Gamers ABOUT the gamers. And G4 is a clear example that a great potential still needs fresh ideas. Gamers aren’t here just to be here, we have a voice. We are a culture! And while the gaming industry does provide a business with an abundant potential for cash flow; Gaming culture and its outlets should not be just about the bottom dollar.
Ah but I’ll leave the company statement for another blog.
Until companies start thinking more about the people, they won’t be able to sustain. And in a gamer market, its the people that make this culture special.
But don’t worry G4, we gamers will learn from the mistakes of the past.
Hey, at least we have the internet.
- C
