Gephyrophillia | Watch This Space #111

Originally Posted on 03/26/2004 by Jeff Harris

Something about this TechTV/G4 deal rubs me the wrong way. I haven't really felt this way since 2001 when Kids' WB virtually took over Cartoon Network. Even though that arrangement has lessened a bit recently, the sting has forever tarnished Cartoon Network in the eyes of a lot of viewers.

Comcast's G4 is merging with TechTV to become, um, G4. TechTV is moving from its San Fransisco digs to Los Angeles, where G4 is currently based. According to the Wall Street Journal, the network plans to use "some" of the shows currently on the TechTV lineup. Obviously the game-friendly X-Play will be a part of G4, as will marquee show The Screen Savers. G4 will probably take a few more of the shows, like Fresh Gear, maybe Call For Help, and a few others. Perhaps they'll even find it in their hearts to keep Anime Unleashed. The bulk of G4 would still be limited to foreign-based gaming shows and other game-based programming.

Beneath the deal, however, lies something really, really sinister. Comcast is basically buying their competitor for chump change to them. Call me crazy, but didn't they just put $50 billion on the table for Disney? I'm not saying that TechTV is worth that much, but they're worth a lot more than the $300 million they're offering Vulcan, owners of TechTV. Also, TechTV is the only network G4 sees as a competitor, and by absorbing their competitor, they eliminate competition. They're virtually equals, and yet TechTV is going to become just a small core of G4.

If this was a just world, it would be a merger of equals. I know that there's a generation of readers out there that doesn't know that Comedy Central was a result of a merger between MTV's HA! The Comedy Network and HBO's Comedy Channel. There's even a generation before that that doesn't know that A&E was formed by the merger of two arts channels, The Arts Channel and The Entertainment Channel (not to be confused with E!). The absorption of TechTV into G4 is the equivalent of Nicktoons TV buying Cartoon Network just for three brands (Toonami, Last Bell, and Fridays) and channel space while keeping the Nicktoons TV name. Yeah, they're the shows you know, but there's an "unfamiliar ceiling" feel to them when you see it on another network.

With that said, if Comcast wants to impress me and others, they should use the TechTV acquisition to totally revamp the newly merged channel. For starters, give the new network a NEW NAME. Drop the lame G4 name to emphasize the fact that the network is more than games. Create a sense of unity, even if on the surface it's artificial. Keep both studios around to continue the unity as well as create a balance of programming to showcase the strengths of both the G4 and TechTV brands. Comcast should see this acquisition as a merger of equals rather than new channel space with a few cluttered shows on the side.

Otherwise, loyal viewers of TechTV are going to be extremely ticked off at the new changes.

*end transmission*

Jeff Harris,
The X Bridge Creator/Webmaster
March 26, 2004