How Rupert Murdoch Changed Sports Media Forever
The plug on G4 TV is being pulled. Again.
Comcast is reportedly shuttering the gaming-focused network only a year after its relaunch.
“We worked hard to generate interest in G4, but viewership is low and the network has not achieved sustainable financial results,” said CEO of G4 parent company Comcast Spectacor Dave Scott.
- G4 originally launched in 2002 under NBCUniversal and Dish Network.
- The network ceased operations in 2014 due to the popularity of online video content.
- In November 2021, it relaunched under Comcast Spectacor.
- G4 had secured deals with Twitch, Xfinity TV, Verizon FiOS, and Philo.
The end of G4 comes amid issues plaguing the gaming industry, including the return of outdoor recreational activity, the ongoing semiconductor shortage, and global supply chain disruptions.
U.S. consumers spent $12.4 billion on video games in Q2 2022, a 13% drop year-over-year.
Microsoft saw its gaming revenue fall by $259 million in fiscal Q4 2022, while Sony’s Game & Network Services segment reported a 2% decline in sales for the first quarter ending June 30.
Not the First Time
Comcast-owned NBCUniversal canceled the Olympic Channel on Sept. 30 after a five-year run. At the end of 2021, the linear channel reached roughly 47 million homes.
The decision was a byproduct of NBCUniversal’s reevaluated programming strategy amid increased sports-related content on USA Network and streaming platform Peacock.
In December 2021, NBCUniversal ceased operations of NBC Sports Network, which originally launched in 1995 as Outdoor Life Network.
