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?

[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.