G4TV Cancels More Shows

G4 has apparently canceled two more of their holdover shows from the TechTV days. G4TV.com and Filter have been been put under the axe. While I wasn't a big fan of either of these shows, this seems to be indicative of the market-driven decision-making over at that network. They've got their product, stamped it, and now they're pumping out whatever lifestyle some exec has decided is the flavour of the moment. "Geek is out, but we'll keep X-Play, Icons, and Cinematech for our old market, Whip Set, Anime Unleashed, and Fast Lane for the new market, and reruns of the Man Show for everyone to look at hot girls." Mmmmmeh.

Comments

You were expecting something else?

[Threni]

> They've got their product, stamped it, and now they're pumping out whatever
> lifestyle some exec has decided is the flavour of the moment.

It's the media - making money is their raison d'etre. TV, newspapers, websites - it's all about selling advertising. Apparantly it's that or socialism, and you picked that. Enjoy your coke...uh, day.

Re:You were expecting something else?

[Dadoo]

It's the media - making money is their raison d'etre.

I agree, but I find it very difficult to believe that anything they currently show could bring in more advertising money than Screen Savers or the tech news show right after it, when it was on TechTV. If G4TV does bring in more money now, we really need to give up all faith in this country. I mean, honestly, whose idea was it to have a beauty pageant with video game characters. Are we really that sad?

Re:You were expecting something else?

[shawb]

I would be willing to bet that a show that appeals to 1 million "Oooh look... shinies!" types would bring in more advertising dollars than a show that appeals to 2 million critical thinkers. Why? Commercials are more effective on the former. In fact, the critical thinker type will realize that the commercials are annoying and do something else... whether it is make a sandwhich, go to the bathroom or just flip through the channels in hopes of spotting something interesting.

That's why I think the advertising model of content delivery will always lead to watered down content... the reader or viewer becomes the product, while the advertisers are the customers. The advertiser wants the network to deliver the most swayable audience possible, so advertising dollars are best spent on lowest common denominator type shows. With advertising supported media, it becomes financially irresponsible to create programming that actually inspires critical thinking.

Re:You were expecting something else?

[kilonad]

Yes, happy, shiny, flashy commercials will almost certainly be more effective on the unwashed masses. However, marketing to 2 million critical thinkers is still the better choice, but it requires a different mentality in advertising. PhDs aren't going to buy a Ford truck because some washed up country star is singing about it on TV (though the unwashed masses will). If the commercial is creative, informational, and presents a logical case for buying a product (all in 30 seconds), it would work. It's up to the advertisers and networks to figure that one out though.

Re:You were expecting something else?

[Pxtl]

Yep. Just remember, unless you watch an expensive for-pay commercial free channel like HBO, then to the TV producers, you are not the customer. The advertisers are the customer. You are what they sell to the advertisers.

You, the viewer, are the product. And the viewers that are more easily bent by commercials are a far better quality product than the skeptics. Thus, TVs focus on the lowest common denominator. It's not that the LCD is a larger proportion of the populace - its that they're a higher quality product to sell to advertisers.

That is why TV is trash - eyeballs are _not_ equal. Gullible eyeballs are worth more money.

Does anyone watch this channel

[heinousjay]

I gave up on it after one week, because I watched the same show about 15 times. Do people out there have the patience for this dreck?

Exactly

[aztektum]

I know that I and many others share the same sentiment. I have non "nerd" friends who watched Screensavers to learn a bit more about computers, but also watched Fresh Gear because they were typical guys who liked gadgets. When it became G4, they all quit watching because they aren't hardcore gamers. Way to shoot yourself in the foot.

The one thing G4 Execs seem to have forgotten:

[Thedalek]

I can't help but think that the G4 executives were either never informed of, or have completely forgotten that G4 is meant to be a network for Gamers. Right now, a massive bulk of their programming seems to have been put there just for the sake of Tommy Tallerico. Man Show? Whip Set? FASTLANE?

When you branch out and try to serve the percieved "other interests" of gamers, make sure you're not distancing yourself from your stated goals. Tech TV had shows which appealed to gamers and informed them of technology, and which appealed to tech heads and informed them of gaming news. That was good synergy. Now however, G4 is becoming worse than SpikeTV in terms of having a direct focus as a network.

Never let Tommy pick shows. That's the moral.

Re:hold on

[vertinox]

but I watch g4tv.com and Filter to look at hot girls!

You know for $5 a month more on your cable/satellite bill you can watch them naked on 200 channels up.

G4TV vs. Tech TV = Los Angeles Vs. San Francisco

[crazyphilman]

I always saw it this way:

When G4TV took over Tech TV, it was like Los Angeles invading and conquering San Francisco. Consider the way the two cities map onto the TV channels.

L.A. (and G4TV): All attitude, no geek. Smartass, fashioned up faux geeks and gamers with lots of attitude and tons of manufactured "cred". The Hollywood version of geeks and gamers, in other words.

San Francisco (and Tech TV): All geek, all the time. All about substance, focusing on gaming and technology, totally geek friendly and tons of useful information.

When G4 took over Tech TV, the channel went straight down the toilet. If it wasn't for the GORGEOUS Morgan Webb, I wouldn't spend thirty seconds there.

But... Damn! Morgan! Whatta babe!

Of course, G4 DID find that "blondie" chick, she's kinda cool. But even if she broke out into a chorus of "Call me", it still wouldn't be as good as the old Tech TV.