Comcast to buy TechTV for $300 million, merge it with G4

[Beat]

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Comcast Corp. on Thursday said it would buy TechTV, the cable channel devoted to the technology industry, from Vulcan Programing for an estimated $300 million in a move to boost the subscriber base of its video game channel.


Comcast Photo


TechTV, home to such shows as "Robot Wars" and "Spy School" with 43 million subscribers, will be combined with Comcast's G4 network, a channel devoted to video games that has 15 million subscribers, the company said.



"As passionate as we are about the prospects for G4, we saw an opportunity to jump-start its distribution with this deal," said Allan Singer, Comcast senior vice president for programing investments.



Comcast will pay Vulcan, the investment firm controlled by Microsoft Corp. co-founder Paul Allen, nearly $300 million for the channel, a source familiar with the matter said. Comcast, the largest U.S. cable company, last month made an unsolicited $45 billion bid for Walt Disney Co.



EchoStar Communications Corp., which operates the Dish Network satellite television service, will own approximately a 12 percent equity stake in the combined channel, the source added.



Charles Hirschhorn, founder and CEO of G4, will run the combined channel.



Spokespeople with TechTV and Vulcan were not immediately available to comment.



G4, launched in April 2002, has been slow to add new subscribers, though it has some subscribers on systems owned by top-tier operators like Time Warner Cable and Cox Communications Inc.



"We're not disappointed," Comcast's Singer said. "It's the normal pace for distribution for a new channel. G4 has exceeded our expectations."



With relatively little programing on TV for video game fans, the network was intended to tap a heavy-spending, brand-conscious audience. Video gaming has been a larger part of TechTV's programing, including the games review show "X Play."



Comcast shares closed up 47 cents, or 1.68 percent, to $28.47 in Nasdaq trading.

What does this mean for Anime Unleashed?

[VinceA]

From the sounds of it, TechTV will be the winner in the combination since it appears from the announcement that it had the larger subscriber base,

[Arxane]

From the sounds of it, TechTV will be the winner in the combination since it appears from the announcement that it had the larger subscriber base,

Actually, G4 will be the bigger winner because it''ll benefit from TechTV's larger fanbase.

And concerning what this might do for Anime Unleashed...I'll wait until I see some schedules before I make any calls.

[Jimmy Kustes]

Maybe they can get something new like Penny Arcade or 8 Bit Theater now.

[Weatherman]

Hmmmmm, well, as long as they stick with the kind of programing and people that TechTV had and maybe restructure the commercial break setup, this could be good. Comcast already has TechTV on all of their plans, so this should be good for them.

[Lord Dalek]

I hope this doesn't mean that us, satalite owners will lose TechTV. I like Leo and Pat's witty banter.

[TnAdct1]

One word of advice to Comcast: make sure this merged channel has both Anime Unleashed and Starcade.

[Roger Smith]

8 bit theater=Pwoned
Tommorow Nobodies=Ownage. as heck
Penny Arcade=hell funny
and Anime Unleashed.
cool =)

[EroSennin]

Well I for one love Tech Tv and I hope this merger doesnt screw w/ thier shows.

[Duke]

Doesn't really affect me much since I've never seen either channel. Maybe Comcast could be nice and switch it with CSPAN or something?

[UberMonkey]

...What'll happen to Adam Sessler? Or, I guess, X-Play? Although, really, Extended Play was better... Ever since the name and format changed, it's just come off as really dorky - too many lame segments and corny jokes. Still, I have some respect for the guy. I hope they aren't overrun by the G4 shows... from what I hear, they aren't very good.

I'm not sure what to think of this. I've not liked TechTV as much as I did when I first got it - sure, the shows repeat less now, but a lot of the shows they got from BBC or whatever were really boring (Spy School, Future Fighting Machines, Invent This, Robot Wars, etc. etc.), and a lot of the shows have gotten lame writers or something. If G4's programming is somewhat entertaining, it may be better for the channel overall.

Wow, I must've missed it. But I guess Leo left the Screen Savers last night. I just checked his blog to see what he had to say about it... It's not stated, but I wouldn't be suprised if this had something to do with it. I really hope they aren't trying to make the older people leave for a "hipper" cast. But Leo says it was his decision. It's sad to see him go. But I guess he won't be gone completely right away. Oh well.

Also found this: http://www.g4tv.com/techtvmerger/
Anime Unleashed is still there, to answer your question.

[Beat]

It looks like X-Play is staying on, which makes sense, considering the antics of Adam and Morgan are the highest rated program on the network. Why mess with success?

[Nimbleness]

NOOOOOOOOooooooooooo! We'll they've just ruined one of my top channels. Still, at least this will probably be used to cut down on the infomercials and reruns.
I was always dreading the day I would be able to sit down and watch Judgement Day(quality reviews from two perspectives); then have then watch X-Play (annoying announcer and two hosts that agree on everything). YOU TAKE ALL MY PARTS ADAM SESSLER!1!!11

Also, since I guess this is supposed to be about anime, uh.... Yay for anime unleashed.

[True Noir]

Wow, I hope nothing happens to Anime Unleashed since I really enjoyed watching it.

[herbkir]

I think this could be good for Anime Unleashed. Comcast/G4 already has indicated AU is one of the TTV programs that will be retained. Since there are so many links between anime and games, and since anime and games tend to appeal to the same sorts of people, I can see AU getting some major resources to go out and acquire new anime. The shows the new AU gets probably will be those that already have a game associated with them or are good prospects for game development. And maybe AU will get some additional timeslots. We'll see. It'll probably be some months before Comcast sorts out what it wants to do with TTV and the 43 million households that have it available to them. (^_*)