Last year NBC Universal’s popular television channel G4 announced that it will be undergoing some big changes over the next year in an attempt to re-brand the decade old channel. The network followed with announcements that two of their most popular programs, "Attack of the Show" and "X-Play", were going to be canceled in NBC's ongoing efforts to reinvent itself.
According to the New York Times, it was announced today that the gaming focused channel will now go by the name of Esquire Network on April 22 as NBC Universal sealed the deal with Esquire magazine owner Heart Magazines. The main purpose for the channel’s new direction is to aim for a more sophisticated and educated male viewer. The Esquire Network programs will include diverse program genres such as technology cars, politics, food, fashion, women and travel. Notice the network does not have any gaming focused programs in their new line up.
NBC's Program Executive Bonnie Hammer said the network was having difficulty attracting gamers with their programs.
Realistically, guys who are into gaming are not necessarily watching television. If this was going to come under my portfolio, I'm a little brand crazy, so I said, let's create a real brand, define a space, understand who we are programming for.
What do you think of these changes? Will you stay tuned for Esquire Network or do you want G4 back? Write a comment saying what you think!
Comments