Shubham Sawarkar
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According to Deadline, Comcast is shutting down G4 after attempting to relaunch the gaming channel last year. The channel debuted on linear cable in 2002 and lasted until 2012 when the final studio shows were canceled, and it was replaced by the Esquire Network.
Dave Scott, the CEO of Comcast’s Spectacor division, announced the shutdown in an internal memo seen by Deadline before it was sent, citing low viewership and a failure to “achieve sustainable financial results.”
According to tweets from several G4 employees, they learned about the shutdown from early press reports and tweets before receiving Scott’s message. “This is certainly not what we hoped for, and, as a result, we have made the very difficult decision to discontinue G4’s operations, effective immediately,” Scott writes.
Last year, G4 made a comeback on several networks, including Comcast / Xfinity, Verizon Fios, Cox, and Philo. It debuted with shows like Attack of the Show, Xplay, and Ninja Warrior in an attempt to appeal to the nostalgia of viewers who grew up watching the network. Before returning to linear television, the company also had a multi-year agreement with Twitch, where it hosted the occasional stream.
Scott goes on to say that the company’s human resources team will contact G4 team members to “discuss other opportunities that may be available.”
Here is Scott’s full memo, which Deadline obtained from a source:
Team:
As you know, G4 was re-introduced last year to tap into the popularity of gaming. We invested to create the new G4 as an online and TV destination for fans to be entertained, be inspired, and connect with gaming content.
Over the past several months, we worked hard to generate that interest in G4, but viewership is low and the network has not achieved sustainable financial results. This is certainly not what we hoped for, and, as a result, we have made the very difficult decision to discontinue G4’s operations, effective immediately.
I know this is disappointing news, and I’m disappointed, too. I want to thank you and everyone on the G4 team for the hard work and commitment to the network.
Our human resources team is reaching out to you to provide you with support, discuss other opportunities that may be available, and answer any questions you may have.
Thank you again for all of your hard work for G4.
Sincerely,
Dave Scott
Chairman and CEO
Comcast Spectacor
