Once again, G4 is coming to an end. The gaming-centric network appears to have been terminated by Comcast. This news was first reported by Deadline and it has obtained an internal memo describing the reasons for the action. According to the memo from Comcast chairman and CEO Dave Scott, “Viewership is low and the network has not achieved sustainable financial results.” G4 and its programming will reportedly be discontinued effective immediately.
Fans who were anticipating the network’s return last year as well as those who never watched the original G4 are sure to be disappointed by the announcement. Considering how much larger the video gaming industry is now than it was when G4 first debuted, those associated with the network’s return hoped for even greater success. The original G4 had a devoted fanbase.
Profits for the gaming industry have significantly increased over the past 10 years, and interest in gaming as a creative medium has expanded as well. Comcast’s decision to relaunch the network was probably motivated by the surge in popularity of esports and live service games. It’s unclear if G4’s failure to attract viewers can be attributed to the intense competition or the fact that the network has little time to develop a new viewership base.
G4 began in 2002 and continued through 2014. The network’s revival started in November 2021, which now makes it less than a year after Comcast brought the brand back to life. The revived G4 seemed fairly promising, bringing in a lot of talented people on board.