DirecTV Unplugs Video Game Channel G4

[Nemesis]

 

X-Play is on pause for DirecTV subscribers. The satellite TV provider has dropped video game-centric network G4 from its line-up today, with DirecTV saying it has "no plans" to bring back the cable channel for its 18 million U.S. customers. DirecTV said in a statement to Entertainment Weekly that rising costs are partially to blame for the provider dropping the network. It defended its decision to nix G4 by labeling it "among the lowest rated networks based on the latest Nielsen data," saying that it would prefer to carry content "more relevant to our larger customer base."

G4 is owned by Comcast, one of DirecTV's biggest competitors and the largest cable operator in the United States. Despite that seemingly comfortable position, G4 does not seem pleased based on its statement.

"We are very disappointed with DirecTV's decision to drop G4 as of November 1, 2010," reads the response from G4. "We have done everything in our power to reach a fair and equitable long-term extension with them to continue to carry our network. This is especially frustrating since our offer to them was the same basic deal that we've had with DirecTV for the past three years. However, DirecTV rejected this offer thereby denying their subscribers the only network dedicated to today's web-inspired, tech-savvy, gamer lifestyle."

G4 is best known for its video game and tech shows X-Play and Attack of the Show, as well as lifestyle stuff like Web Soup and Ninja Warrior. It's also pretty well known for running Cops. Lots and lots of Cops.

[shane]

Maybe too much cops, no network can survive on a few shows

 

sent from my droid

[Crusty_Demons]

I only watched it for a few hours a day for about 3 days out of the year...

 

The whole cable companies owning networks thing is going to be bad in the long run though I think.

[IRISH BULL]

Maybe too much cops, no network can survive on a few shows

 

sent from my droid

 

Yea, that definitely doesn't help. They are on their way to being like MTV. Music video station with NO music videos. X-Play seems to be the only show about video games on the video game channel. Maybe Attack of the Show. But even that show only brushes over video games.

 

I remember when I first started watching G4, it was pretty much nothing but shows about video games.

[SgtJoeFriday]

its true there's only a few hours of good programming and the rest is cops. But I still watch it....a lot!

[Neoblackhound]

I don't watch it anymore, ever since it merged with tech tv. Ever since its more of a mtv channel....electric playground was way better then xplay and the old aots was better then the crap they have now bleh bleh G4 is lousy.

[Red0ctobeR]

It wasn't HD. So I never wanted to watch it. Other better channels in HD. Plain and Simple