G4 TV closes just one year after relaunch

One month after the transferred series key layoffs and layoffsill-fated attempt to reboot the 2000s gaming channel G4 TV ended and its owners announced that they would close the chain.

As Term reports, an email was sent to the remaining employees today by David Scott, CEO of Spectator’s parent company, a division of Comcast. In that memo, Scott “explained that the company’s investment and efforts to revive the network just haven’t caught on.”

The deadline also says that “the shutdown affected several dozen employees and contractors.” This is all that’s left on the net after the round”mass layoffs” occurred last month:

The timing and severity of the cuts caught the staff by surprise: there was talent on set ready to shoot today, but programming was canceled as HR representatives met with the staff individually. While it’s unclear what the extent of the layoffs will be, one source said those affected were told they would receive between 16 weeks and six months of severance pay depending on their tenure at G4’s parent company Comcast.

Despite assurances on a subsequent broadcast that “there were no plans to cut the channel’s programming”, xplay host Indiana “Froskurinn” Black and Attack of the show! co-host Kevin Pereira also left soon after.

“It’s been in motion for a long time,” Pereira said of his departure. “I know that some strange things have happened on the air lately, but months and months and months ago everything was decided this time. The show closes for two weeks and returns. I won’t be here. I’m sorry.”

Scott’s full email, received Termis reading:

Team:

As you know, the G4 was re-introduced last year to tap into the popularity of gaming. We’ve invested in building the new G4 as an online and TV destination where fans can be entertained, inspired, and experience gaming content.

We’ve been hard at work over the past few months to generate interest in G4, but viewership is low and the network hasn’t achieved sustainable financial results. This is certainly not what we hoped for, and as a result we have made the very difficult decision to terminate G4 operations, which is effective immediately.

I know this is disappointing news and I am disappointed too. I want to thank you and everyone on the G4 team for your hard work and dedication to the network. Our Human Resources department will contact you to provide you with support, discuss other options that may be available and answer any questions you may have.

Thanks again for all your hard work for G4.

Sincerely,

Dave Scott

Chairman and CEO

Comcast Spectacore

The note, unsurprisingly given its time (posted Sunday night), could have been handled better: