Using the tag “G4 is less geek, more chic,” Variety has reported that the video game cable network G4 is getting a makeover of sorts. More in line with GQ, G4 is being pushed towards a more “sophisticated” look, while claiming to hold on to its tech and video game roots.
Many viewers may recognize that G4 has struggled over the past few years to find the right personality, or branding for itself, having been TechTV at one time, then morphing into G4 and claiming to be video game television. As G4, shows such as X-Play and Attack of the Show became the flagship series for the network, along with having such video game industry figures like Adam Sessler, Morgan Webb, Kevin Pereira, Olivia Munn, and more at the helm. The past few years, however, saw G4 struggling to find the right audience.
The GQ rebranding is an effort to help G4 compete with other male oriented channels such as Spike, SyFy, History, Discovery, and A&E. With GQ, G4 could maybe differentiate itself from these networks and establish itself. What looks grim is the future for shows like Attack of the Show and G4′s covering of events like Comic-Con and video game conventions. If G4 stops, then someone else will inevitably step up to this opportunity. Who, is mystery at this time, however.
While the future for G4 as a network looks bright, the future for G4 as video game or geek TV looks dark. As said, someone else will more than likely step up to fill this void. It will be interesting to see who. While many gamers lost or never had a huge connection to G4, a wide audience of gamers could say they did. Like it or not, many of G4′s video game centric elements will be missed until a new channel takes the stage, be they TV, internet, or some other form.
