G4 cuts back signature shows

[TMC1982]

And yet, Neal Tiles (who seems to have a never ending hard on for Cops and Cheaters reruns) still has a job!

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118000258.html?categoryid=14&cs=1

G4 slices shows, staff
Network trims 'Attack,' 'Play' episodes
By DANIEL FRANKEL

G4 Network is trimming episodes and staff on its signature series
"Attack of the Show!" and "X-Play."


Quote:
The Comcast-owned cabler will tape only four episodes of "AOTS" a week
now. It's the second time the news, reviews and variety show, targeted
to G4's core demo of educated, vidgame-loving young men, has had its
Friday run scaled back. "AOTS" launched in March 2005 as a
five-day-a-week series, was originally cut back to four days in
January 2006, then re-expanded in September.

Vidgame-themed series "X-Play," meanwhile, will be cut back from five
episodes to three a week.
The changes take effect March 2. G4 officials didn't disclose how many
staff members will lose their jobs.


Quote:
"Savings resulting from this move will go directly toward producing
more original programming in 2009. This is not a budget cut. G4
remains dedicated to these core franchises," the company said in a
statement.

 

[deathshead2]

Ever since G4 took over this channel has been crap. No big deal really since Most of the population either A)Doesn't get the channel anymore like myself B)Doesn't watch it. Only reason its lasted this long is thanks to Webb and Mann. If I was in charge of the channel I would just fire all the male hosts and replace them with hot girls.

 

[amazingfantasy15]

Cutting back X-Play makes sense, how many game releases a week are there to review? Plus most games are released on either Tuesday or Wedsnesday, so you don't need a Thursday or Friday show anyway.

 

[batgirl2119]

yeah xplay makes sense but i love aots. and its munn not mann.
and there are girls who watch the channel you guys already get that damn after dark segment and girls of the web crap. the guy hosts are staying.

 

[Colossal Spoons]

The channel is a joke now :

 

[marukisu]

...

 

[Ghostvirus]

Could G4 maybe just cut back on transmission of their ***** signal all together?

 

[Why Are You Crouching Spock?]

They seem to be the video game equivalent of trailer park trash.

 

[tecnowraith]

I notice that now they are showing movies and I they should showing movies based on video games and there are plenty out there. Be it live-action or animated. Even tv shows with video game themes would cool like Zelda, Captain N, Dragon’s Lair, super mario bros., q-bert and others: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_television_programs_based_on_video_games

A list of anime based on video games: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_anime_based_on_video_games

List of films based on video games: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_films_based_on_video_games

I can a whole slew of programing for the channel and I bet gamers would love it.

 

[BlackLantern]

I notice that now they are showing movies and I they should showing movies based on video games and there are plenty out there. Be it live-action or animated. Even tv shows with video game themes would cool like Zelda, Captain N, Dragon’s Lair, super mario bros., q-bert and others: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_television_programs_based_on_video_games

A list of anime based on video games: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_anime_based_on_video_games

List of films based on video games: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_films_based_on_video_games

I can a whole slew of programing for the channel and I bet gamers would love it.

Rights and licenses cost money.....they are a tiny channel, owned by Comcast, who is in turn owned by Time Warner....I don't see this being around much longer...most video game fans get their news and stuff from the 'Net anyway...

 

[Kable24]

I watch AOTS every so often. My wife and I love watching Ninja Warrior though.

 

[Hellion]

I miss TechTv...I miss the Screen Savers (with Leo Laporte of course)...



...and how many channels show Cops...its almost everywhere now...

 

[amazingfantasy15]

I notice that now they are showing movies and I they should showing movies based on video games and there are plenty out there. Be it live-action or animated. Even tv shows with video game themes would cool like Zelda, Captain N, Dragon’s Lair, super mario bros., q-bert and others: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_television_programs_based_on_video_games

A list of anime based on video games: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_anime_based_on_video_games

List of films based on video games: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_films_based_on_video_games

I can a whole slew of programing for the channel and I bet gamers would love it.

Yeah, but the branding for their movies is "Movies that don't suck" which pretty much kills the idea of showing movies based on video games.

 

[batgirl2119]

I watch AOTS every so often. My wife and I love watching Ninja Warrior though.

ninja warrior is the best

 

[Max J Power]

"X-Play" and "Attack of the Show" have both gotten well past the point of sucking anyway. The whole channel is just awful.

 

[Hypestyle]

ah well... i'm sure olivia may soon be jumping ship to MTV or something.. also probably a scripted TV show and/or movies..

 

[BlackLantern]

In an economy like this, expect a lot of the smaller cable channels to cut back or probably cease completely....if G4 lasts another 20 months, I will be surprised

 

[Sam Fisher]

What G4 really needs to do is stop showing crap like Cops and that Ninja show and bring back their good programming that actually has to do with video games.

 

[BlackLantern]

airing reruns doesn't cost anything....producing new programming does....more than some people might think...and they are trying to save money right now, as most businesses are

 

[fu manchu]

damn, the bad economy is slightly sucking the good out of G4.

I watch AOTS every so often. My wife and I love watching Ninja Warrior though.

when I had G4, i too enjoyed Ninja Warrior, but i got tired of watching it continuously for 5 hours.

 

[Fading]

I loved the channel when it was Tech TV, then G4 took over and gutted the majority of the shows I cared for and put reruns of X-Play and cheat in their place. AOTS was pretty much the only show I cared to tune in for, the rest of it I just put on as background while drawing or playing on my comp.

None of this matters tho, my cable company Insight took G4 off of it's normal package recently so I wasn't getting it anymore anyway.

Edit - Ninja Warriors was alright too, just had to watch it in smaller doses.

 

[TMC1982]

Here's an interesting four part chronical concerning the ups and downs of G4:
Pressing Buttons 10.17.06: The Rise and Fall of G4 [PART 1]

Pressing Buttons 10.27.06: The Rise and Fall of G4 [PART 2]

Pressing Buttons 11.02.06: The Rise and Fall of G4 [PART 3]

Pressing Buttons 11.08.06: The Rise and Fall of G4 [PART 4]

 

[Manic]

*sigh*

Recently, one of the complaints I've had about X-Play has been the fact that all of G4's old videogame shows have been merged into it, leaving less time for game reviews. In the old days, X-Play would crank out 5 reviews per episode and a goofy sketch starring their interns. Now they need to interview someone, tell a cheat code, preview upcoming games, and give general gaming news. On a good day, they manage to crank out 2 reviews. Even then, a vast majority of their reviews are of "big name" games that their viewers were likely going to buy anyway. Now they'll somehow review less games per week.

Gone are the days of X-Play reviewing an obscure-yet-good game, prompting viewers to give something new a try. Now they're just a part of the hype machine used to promote sequels of popular games.

 

[Evelisse]

pretty sure AOTS and X-Play could be combined into 1 show with out skipping a beat.

 

[Hellion]

pretty sure AOTS and X-Play could be combined into 1 show with out skipping a beat.

Probably wouldn't even know the difference...