EXCLUSIVE: Comcast’s Spectacor part is pulling the plug connected video game-centric web G4 TV, whose aboriginal incarnation successful the 2000s remains a taste touchstone for galore millennials, conscionable a twelvemonth aft its relaunch.
In a memo acceptable to beryllium sent retired to each employees, Spectacor CEO Dave Scott explained that the company’s concern and efforts to revive the web conscionable didn’t summation traction.
A fewer twelve employees and declaration workers are affected by the shutdown. Comcast said it volition assistance them with outplacement and see immoderate for interior opportunities.
The departure implicit the summer of Russell Arons, an experienced integer media exec who had travel aboard arsenic G4’s president successful 2021, was a precursor to today’s news. Her duties were added to the portfolio of Joe Marsh, a Comcast Spectacor vet who has been CEO of T1, an planetary esports associated task with Korea’s SK Telecom.
The existent iteration of G4 is smaller and little focused connected accepted linear TV than was its predecessor. It has announced a programming slate including a revived mentation of archetypal G4 mainstays Attack of the Show! and Xplay, positive comedy Boosted, Japanese contention series Ninja Warrior, esports competitions and Dungeons & Dragons constricted series.
Along with putting contented connected YouTube and societal media, G4 has a multi-year statement with Twitch and pay-TV organisation deals with Verizon FiOS, Cox, Xfinity TV and Philo.
Several media and tech ventures centered connected the gamer assemblage person deed turbulence recently, with Facebook shutting down its gaming app and Google winding down gaming work Stadia. VENN, a start-up billed arsenic the “MTV of video games,” besides conscionable went bust.
G4’s archetypal tally began successful 2002 nether co-owners NBCUniversal and Dish Network. The web was created by erstwhile Disney TV exec Charles Hirschhorn, who saw it arsenic a successor to MTV successful its imaginable to pat into younker culture. A fig of notable personalities appeared arsenic hosts connected G4 successful its aboriginal run, among them Olivia Munn, Chris Hardwick, Kevin Pereira and Grace Helbig.
After it went acheronian successful 2014, G4’s spot connected the dial was taken implicit by the Esquire Network, which would beryllium to beryllium a short-lived branding exercise. Amid a groundswell of enthusiasm connected societal media, caller proprietor Comcast Spectacor revealed plans astatine Comic-Con’s virtual 2020 variation for the network’s return.
Spectacor’s main concern absorption is connected sports and unrecorded events, with the part owning the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers arsenic good arsenic their location arena, the Wells Fargo Center, on with galore different assets. The results of G4 were ne'er peculiarly worldly to Spectacor, but the part has avidly pursed esports, making the G4 revival a logical happening to attempt.
Here is Scott’s afloat memo, which Deadline obtained from a source:
Team:
As you know, G4 was re-introduced past twelvemonth to pat into the popularity of
gaming. We invested to make the caller G4 arsenic an online and TV destination for fans
to beryllium entertained, beryllium inspired, and link with gaming content.
Over the past respective months, we worked hard to make that involvement successful G4, but
viewership is debased and the web has not achieved sustainable financial
results. This is surely not what we hoped for, and, arsenic a result, we person made the
very hard determination to discontinue G4’s operations, effectual immediately.
I cognize this is disappointing news, and I’m disappointed, too. I privation to convey you
and everyone connected the G4 squad for the hard enactment and committedness to the network.
Our quality resources squad is reaching retired to you to supply you with support,
discuss different opportunities that whitethorn beryllium available, and reply immoderate questions you
may have.
Thank you again for each of your hard enactment for G4.
Sincerely,
Dave Scott
Chairman and CEO
Comcast Spectacor
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