Editor’s Note: Another outstanding post from RaiseHavok’s SG User Blog
Sometimes I wonder if G4 is run by monkeys. I don’t mean that figuratively. I mean a group of primates that throw feces at each other. It is surprising that the network has survived as long as it has with the befuddling and often incredibly stupid decisions that come from its executives. The decision to air Heroes on the network is a prime example.
G4 is a supposed tech channel. I say supposed because the network lineup includes shows like Cops, Ninja Warrior and Cheaters. I have nothing against these shows, but they don’t belong on a network devoted to technology.
The real problem is that the network lacks a solid lineup of original shows. I am a fan of both Attack of the Show and X-Play, but other than those two shows, there isn’t much worth watching.
In an attempt to increase their videogame-related programming, G4tv.com recently revealed that the network would be “re-airing classic shows” starting June 2. G4 Rewind will air each day (except weekends) for three hours starting at 9 a.m. At first, this announcement seems like a good idea. However, I am not convinced.
The network will be “re-airing” shows like Filter, Judgment Day, Arena, Portal, Cheat and Cinematech. The key word in that sentence is “re-airing.” Is G4 simply going to pull out some old tapes and expect people to watch reruns? You mean I get to see a preview of Madden 2005 on a two-year-old episode of Sweat? Sign me up! I don’t actually know if Sweat ever ran a segment on Madden 2005, but you get the point.
I assume that this announcement is an attempt to attract more gamers to the network. If that is the case, then I have to wonder what they put in the water at G4 headquarters.
G4 Rewind will have an audience. However, that audience will probably be relatively small and consist of people who already watch the channel. If G4 is trying to wrangle a sizable chunk of new (or former viewers), I don’t think replaying old shows is going to do that. After all, few people will want to watch videos of games they have already beaten. We have YouTube for that.
If this endeavor does fail, it will probably mean that the network won’t attempt to create any additional videogame programming in the near future. Be prepared for the debut of Real World: Hollywood on G4 sometime next year.
G4 needs more original content that is focused on videogames, but this latest idea seems like a haphazard way to do it. If the network does add more videogame programming, they need to make sure they don’t saturate the lineup with a 12-hour block of one or two shows. G4 also needs to ensure they only add high-quality programming. In other words, no more Arena. However, based on the six hours of coverage given to the Halo 3 launch, I don’t have much faith in G4’s ability to come up with quality videogame programming.
Note to fanboys: I am not insulting Halo 3 as a game. I just believe that no entertainment launch on Earth deserves six hours of coverage.
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21 responses so far ↓
1 Larry // May 12, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Amen! How about airing video reviews from Cnet or another recognizing site? What about giving smaller, start-up sites a chance and then letting viewers vote on them. If they win the run-off, then they stay permanently in the line-up?
2 Larry // May 12, 2008 at 3:22 pm
I think AOTS & Xplay are entertaining shows, I think the station could do more. I wholeheartedly recommend an Endgaget, avsforum, & Cnet affiliation with the site. Morgan Webb even does her own off-beat daily podcast called Webb Alert. It’s always about 3 minutes long. I’d even consider that other than Cheaters all day long.
3 Doc // May 12, 2008 at 3:33 pm
Basically its a tech channel about 3 hours a day (then the same shows again for another 3 hours)
The rest of the time its like someone put a bunch of old crap in a blender.
Like the 2 good shows though. Xplay and AOTS (I lean a little more AOTS)
4 go fish // May 12, 2008 at 3:37 pm
G4 is as bad as that picture if not worse
5 SWSilentkiller // May 12, 2008 at 4:36 pm
I remember when G4 had more shows that had to do with video games.
6 JakubK666 // May 12, 2008 at 4:43 pm
I thought it said GTA4 and suddenly, I really felt like slapping you
7 NoneOfYourBusiness // May 12, 2008 at 4:52 pm
I like Aots, Xplay (kinda), Ninja Warrior and Unbeatable Banzuke, but they need more techy shows. or Videogame shows. Maybe more specials like “history of madden”, “history of MGS” etc.
8 Nathan Carter // May 12, 2008 at 5:05 pm
I am a huge fan of G4…. and have to say that whoever wrote this is about 2-3 years too late. G4 is NOT A TECH CHANNEL! How hard is that for everyone to understand. G4 and Tech TV were Videogame/Tech channels years ago… keyword YEARS!!! once the merger happened they wanted to shift the focus on their channel to a station like Spike TV because ratings were in the toilet. Ratings have been MUCH better since they changed the format of the station. Why does this station need to focus more on videogames? ITS NOT A VIDEOGAME CHANNEL. Its about Tech,videogames, girls, movies, music, just about EVERYTHING now and not about one particular topic because as its been proven in the past, channels bases SOLELY on videogames fail.
9 Tim // May 12, 2008 at 5:37 pm
Well I’m excited to hear Portal is coming back, that show made me laugh out loud sometimes and I got to say its way better the Cops.
10 RaiseHavok // May 12, 2008 at 6:32 pm
@ Nathan Carter
I guess I missed the episodes of Cheaters, Unbeatable Banzuke, Ninja Warrior and Cops that covered movies, music, girls or videogames. Oh wait, none of those shows has anything to do with any of those things. I don’t mean to upset you by insulting something you enjoy. I am just fed up with G4. They have the potential to be great, but just can’t seem to pull it off.
11 nick1023456 // May 12, 2008 at 7:08 pm
i don’t get G4, but over the weekend i was in Ohio and got to see one and about 3/4 episodes of X-play and it was not that great. At one point they said some stuff like it had just happened and i have know about it for months.
12 Lurkero // May 12, 2008 at 9:12 pm
Its funny because the shows that they do have related to gaming/technology are good. That even includes Code Monkeys. But the rest of the day is just filled with…well…filler. Seriously, Cheaters and Cops?
13 Kalroy // May 12, 2008 at 10:05 pm
I miss TechTV.
Kalroy
14 Nathan Carter // May 12, 2008 at 10:08 pm
@RaiseHavok
I never said G4 only covers those things. I said it covers everything now adays. Also if you dont like G4 dont bitch about it… just dont watch it. G4 is just fine the way it is.
15 RaiseHavok // May 12, 2008 at 10:20 pm
@ Nathan Carter
I only watch two shows on G4 (AOTS and X-Play). In my article I clearly said I enjoy watching both shows. Other than that I don’t watch anything else. However, if I feel that a product is subpar, I am clearly well within my rights to express my opinion and lobby for higher-quality entertainment. I am sorry you didn’t like my assessment of G4. By the looks of some of the comments, I’m not the only person that has a problem with the network. I, like you, am entitled to my own opinion. I respect the fact that you like G4. Personally, I don’t. Deal with it. I didn’t know there were t.v. stations fanboys now.
16 RaiseHavok // May 12, 2008 at 10:21 pm
Yea, I made “stations” plural when it should have been singular. Deal with it.
17 Turian209 // May 12, 2008 at 11:40 pm
G4 started going down the tubes after the merger with TechTV, I was a fan of both channels before the merger, but then when they merged it seems like they stopped caring about games and technology and just cared about (as Doc said) crap in a blender.
18 Nathan Carter // May 13, 2008 at 12:00 pm
My problem wasnt with you expressing your opinion. Its was with the fact that you and tons of other people didnt get the memo two years ago that G4 is NOT a Videogame/Tech channel anymore.
19 Lono // May 13, 2008 at 10:31 pm
We got the memo Nathan, you’re just acting kind of like a dick… that’s just my opinion.
20 Nathan Carter // May 14, 2008 at 12:38 am
How the hell am I acting like a dick? Because im not joining in on the “lets bash G4″ parade? Wow, I don’t know what it is but I have that ability to piss everyone off wherever I go without even purposly trying. Sarcastic gamer, Gamer Tag Radio, Podtacular.
21 Lono // May 14, 2008 at 9:00 am
Hey, three different Gamercast Network sites can’t be wrong. Great job Nathan! /sarcasm
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