Comcast Wires TechTV Deal
Close to Buying Cable Network From Paul Allen for $300 Mil; Plans to Merge With G4 Channel

By James Hibberd

Comcast Communications is nearing an agreement to purchase TechTV for nearly $300 million, sources familiar with the deal said Friday. The cable operator plans to merge the network with its struggling video game channel G4.

Representatives for Comcast and G4 declined comment. A TechTV spokesperson said, "We can't divulge anything right now and we're being true to the process. We anticipate an announcement before the end of the year."

One source said Sony Pictures Entertainment, which reportedly has been in negotiations for the network, was the closest runner-up in the bidding. Several other bidders were in the running as recently as this fall. After billionaire and philanthropist Paul Allen put a "for sale" sign on the network, the Greenbridge Group in Connecticut, representing Mr. Allen's Vulcan Inc., received at least four bids (TelevisionWeek, Sept. 22).

If TechTV and G4 are combined, it is unclear what the channel will be called. One source said TechTV owner Mr. Allen may tap former UPN Chief Operating Officer Adam Ware to run the combined network under Comcast. Mr. Ware was reportedly in talks with Mr. Allen last year to run TechTV.

Both networks offer technology-related programming, but the similarities appear to end just about there.

San Francisco-based TechTV, which launched in May 1998 and currently is available in about 40 million homes, has considerably wider distribution than G4, which is in 11 million homes. TechTV has also gained ground in the ratings recently, nearly doubling its late-night viewers with its introduction of a new programming block. In addition, the network recently announced a VOD deal with none other than Comcast.

Los Angeles-based G4, however, has struggled to establish a strong presence since its debut in April 2002. Comcast allocated $150 million over five years to bring G4 to profitability by targeting male gamers age 12 to 34, yet one source said the operator is "losing a fortune" with the network and has already spent $125 million of its G4 budget.

The video game network has also had to fend off more established competitors who have begun targeting gaming fans with their programming. Viacom's Spike TV, for example, is touting its upcoming "Video Game Awards" as the first-ever televised pageant for gamers despite the fact that G4 aired its first G-Phoria awards in August. What's more, Game Show Network announced the purchase of two video-game-related programs from the United Kingdom. TechTV's recently rebranded video game news-and-review program "X-Play" actually predates all of the other shows.

TechTV is one of Mr. Allen's myriad investments. In 1976 he and Bill Gates co-founded Microsoft, where Mr. Allen served as chief technologist until he left the company in 1983. He is the founder and chairman of Vulcan and chairman of cable provider Charter Communications. He also has stakes in DreamWorks SKG and Oxygen Media.#

G4 has sucked nuts for a long time. they have on average 4 programs and they rerun them to death. TechTV offers a better balance of gaming, technology, anime and everything else so that you aren't so bored of it.

Yeah, I loved G4 when my cable company first got it. It was the only channel I could always flip to and usually find something I liked. But, the lack of new content has turned me off of it so much.

When X-play started up, it completely blew away anything on G4. I know it had already been on Techtv for a long time, but adding Morgan and a little bit of comedy greatly improved it. Also, they make so many episodes that a tv addict with no life, like myself, can continue to constantly see new episodes. I haven't quite figured out how often X-play makes new episodes, but I know it's more often than any show on G4. Plus, it has much better production values than anything on G4. Also, a barebones simple show like G4TV.com takes like 3 weeks to air after it's filmed. What the hell are they doing for 3 weeks? I'm pretty sure X-play gets their shows to air fairly fast.

I know I keep raving about X-play, but GSN has also started showing video game shows from Europe and they too get their shows on air faster than G4 does.

G4TV should be renamed to Vice City TV. it seems like an hour can't go by without some Rockstar circle jerk going on.

[n00b] What's VOD? [/n00b]

video on demand?

The question is, who survives the merger?

Predictions:
TechTv will keep Leo, Jessica, Morgan, Martin, and the Swish. Everone else gets walking papers.

G4: Scott , and one random hottie stay.

The rest will be made up of reruns and new younger faces(if thats even possible considers child labor laws).

D

what about pat and kevin
who is the swish

Co-host of Unscrewed.

Why keep Scott? He doesn't even seem like he's into games that much. All he ever talks about is Madden. Keep Tina because she's hot and definitely into games. Also, keep Judgement Day and Electronic Playground. They're 2 of the best shows on the channel.

Scot was a gamer when gaming wasn't cool. Plus, I think he may own a piece of G4 (or at least he's near thetop of the food chain).

With XPlay, there's no need to keep ElecPlay around.

Kevin doesn't have a solid spot on any show, he can drop in anywhere, which isn't good when the higher ups are looking to cut the fat. Xplay and Unscrewed are making money but Adam has to be shaking in his boots while Morgan knows she aint going anywhere(she could probaly get a raise, too). Sarah, Pat and everyone on Tech Live probably already have their resumes at the local Kinkos.

I can see Wil Wheaton coming back.

D

The only people I'd want to see stay if the merger happens are Kevin, Yoshi, Jessica, Patrick, and James Kim. Just about everyone else I can live without, especially Leo and Morgan.


XPlay is horrible, I wish they would dump Morgan(she is annoying as hell and doesn't know much about gaming) and the stupid voice. They need to go back to the Extended Play format, the way it is now is unwatchable. Electric Playground is better, I'd much rather watch a show with their hosts.

Adam has some serious seniority with techtv so he shouldn't be worried about a merger or possible cuts.

What? X-play is mostly reviews. If anything it would replace Judgement Day. Maybe you haven't seen ElecPlay since it's been on G4, but they've gotten rid of all the reviews and it's all previews now.

One of the funniest things about G4 to me is the fact that out of all of their programming they only have 1 show dedicated to game reviews. Of course, Techtv makes enough episodes of X-play that I don't think they'd need anymore. I think I'd like to see Vic and Tommy stay on ElecPlay, Judgement Day disappear, and X-play continue like it is.

Speaking as an occasional watcher of X Play, ScreenSavers, and Tech TV in general, I like Adam, Leo and Patrick and want them all to stay. Oh, and the girl who used to be on Extended Play with Adam and Screen Savers with Leo...can't remember her name, haven't seen her in a while. And I liked Extended Play better than the new X Play format too.

Kate Botello? For some reason, I don't think she'll be anywhere near X-Play anytime soon. Imagine the show going from http://www.techtv.com/xplay/aboutus/...423691,00.html to this http://www.katebotello.net/media.htm
My head would explode.

Aren't both G4 and Tech TV located near each other? Which studios do you think will be used?
D

Because of "Unscrewed" w/ Martin Sergeant? Wow I found I could only handle Martin in small doses.

The only show I watch on either of these channels is The Screensavers. I like how they cover a wide range of topics and keep it entertaining. Unfortunately I bet the side effect of Comcast owning them will be the end of any legal grey areas. No more stories on Xbox/Tivo hacking, emulators, war driving, file sharing, dvd backups, or anything that violates the DMCA.

The only thing I've watched more than once on G4 are the Starcade reruns. One game review show is enough for me.

The late night audince doubling could just be because of anime unleashed.

Never heard of or seen G4. Paul Allen's been trying to sell TechTv for a long time now. Leo is TechTV. It wouldn't be the same without him. I like Pat too. Everyone else is pretty expendable. That would include the dumb Unscrewed with Martin Sargeant.

Yep... Kate - that sounds right, and those pics look like her, but talk about a change in profession. Made me do a double-take. Too bad, she was entertaining and smart (and had comedic timing). Morgan may be nice for the fanboys to look at but sorry, don't find her funny or interesting. And I'm not a fanboy, so she has nothing to offer me.

But thanks for the links and for remembering Kate's name for me.

In a move to get the urban community involved, the new name after the merger will be "Tech, G!"

If Comcast buys TECHTV, will it mean Charter Cable will no longer carry it?

I really enjoy Screensavers and Call For Help. I used to love watching Extended Play and seeing game reviews treated in a mature way. The new X-Play show is unwatchable for me but has obviously gained an audience with the very young. It's just painful hearing that obnoxious announcer, Morgan's thin voice and seeing Adam reduced to a prancing monkey. Embarrassing all around.

Count me as one who doesn't watch tech tv simply because he is too geeky for Tech TV(when we first got it I was in ninth grade and answering the questions on The Screen Savers, lol). I reallly like the concept and they do a great job helping people though and I hope it doesn't get run into the ground.