Comcast is shuttering gaming community G4 for a second time.
In a memo despatched Sunday, Dave Scott, chairman and CEO of Comcast Spectacor, the cable community’s sports activities and esports division, mentioned the corporate was shutting down the community “efficient instantly” on account of low viewership numbers.
“Over the previous a number of months, we labored exhausting to generate that curiosity in G4, however viewership is low and the community has not achieved sustainable monetary outcomes. That is actually not what we hoped for, and, consequently, we’ve got made the very tough determination to discontinue G4’s operations, efficient instantly,” Scott mentioned within the memo.
G4 TV was initially launched in 2002 after which shut down in 2013. The community returned in July 2020 with on-line content material, out there on YouTube and Social Media, after which moved to linear TV, with exhibits out there on Xfinity TV, Verizon Fios, Cox Communications and Philo, an web streaming service. in November 2021. The programming slate included revivals of the community’s Assault of the Present! and Xplay, in addition to Ninja Warrior and Dungeons & Dragons restricted collection. The community additionally had a multi-year settlement with Twitch.
“As you recognize, G4 was re-introduced final 12 months to faucet into the recognition of gaming. We invested to create the brand new G4 as a web-based and TV vacation spot for followers to be entertained, be impressed, and join with gaming content material,” Scott wrote within the memo.
The shutdown follows the high-profile shuttering of gaming community, VENN, and comes because the Comcast-owned NBC Common continues to cut down on its linear channels.
The corporate will present impacted staff with assist and the opportunity of different job alternatives on the firm, in accordance with the memo. Selection reported that 45 employees have been impacted.
“I do know that is disappointing information, and I’m disillusioned, too. I need to thanks and everybody on the G4 staff for the exhausting work and dedication to the community,” Scott mentioned.
