Comcast is shutting down its gamer-centric G4 channel, again

Comcast is shutting down G4 after attempting to relaunch the gaming channel last year, according to a report from Deadline. The channel first appeared on linear cable back in 2002 until it met its demise as the final studio shows were axed in 2012, and it was eventually replaced by the Esquire Network.

Dave Scott, the CEO of Comcast’s Spectacor division, announced the shutdown in an internal memo obtained by Deadline before it was even sent, saying that the channel has had low viewership and has not “achieved sustainable financial results.”

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According to tweets from several people who worked for G4, they learned about the shutdown from the initial press reports and tweets before receiving Scott’s message directly.

“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,” Scott writes.

G4 made its return last year on several networks, including Comcast / Xfinity, Verizon Fios, Cox, and Philo. It debuted with shows like Attack of the Show, Xplay, and Ninja Warrior, in an attempt to pander to the nostalgia of viewers who tuned into the network two decades ago. The company also had a multi-year agreement with Twitch, where it hosted the occasional stream before its return to linear television.

Scott adds that the company’s human resources team will reach out to staffers on the G4 team to “discuss other opportunities that may be available.”