G4 TV Shuts Down Two Years After Comcast Tried to Revive Gaming Network

G4, the popular gaming network of the 2000s was revived in 2020. Sadly, it was short-lived.

Comcast Spectacor, the cable and entertainment giant’s sports and esports division, told employees of G4 TV on Sunday that the gaming network was shutting down effective immediately. 45 staff members of G4 TV are now losing their jobs.

Variety obtained a memo from Comcast Spectacor chairman and CEO Dave Scott. He cited low viewership and said the network had not achieved “sustainable financial results.”

“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,” Scott wrote. “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.”

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In July 2020, Comcast Spectacor said it would reboot G4 TV since NBCUniversal shut down in 2013 (after the network first launched in 2002). Former Warner Bros., Machinima, EA, and Mattel executive Russell Arons, joined G4 as president in September 2021 and left the company two months ago.

G4 established its own broadcast studio in Burbank, California outfitted for professional esports gameplay. The roster of talent for the short-lived network include returning G4 hosts Kevin Pereira and Adam Sessler; esports personalities Alex “Goldenboy” Mendez (host of NBC’s “The Titan Games”), Ovilee May and Froskurinn; WWE Superstar Xavier Woods (aka Austin Creed); YouTube personalities Kassem G, Jirard “The Completionist” Khalil and Gina Darling; Twitch streamers Fiona Nova and Will Neff; livestreamer CodeMiko; and a “degenerate rat-puppet” named Ratty.

G4’s shutdown was reported first by Deadline Read Scott’s Sunday email to G4 staffers:

October 16, 2022

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

We’ll have to see how things turn out in this situation, but fans of G4 can’t be happy about this decision.

What do you think of G4 being shut down again? Sound off in the comments!