G4techTV Canada

Infobox_TV_channel
name = G4techTV
logofile = G4techTV Canada logo.svg
logoalt = G4techTV Canada logo
logosize = 150px
launch = September 7, 2001
closed date =
picture format =
share =
share as of =
share source =
network =
owner = Rogers (66.67% & managing
partner)
G4 Media (33.33%)
slogan =
country = Canada
broadcast area = National
headquarters = Toronto, Ontario
former names = TechTV Canada
replaced names =
sister names =
web = [http://www.g4techtv.ca G4TechTV Canada]
sat serv 1 = Bell TV
sat chan 1 = Channel 515
sat serv 2 = Star Choice
sat chan 2 = Channel 514
cable serv 1 = Available on many Canadian cable systems
cable chan 1 = Check local listings

G4techTV Canada is a Canadian English language category 1 digital cable specialty channel co-owned by Rogers Media and G4 Media. Its programming is devoted to the technology genre including computers, internet, video games and more.

History

Licensed as "TechTV Canada" by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) on November 24, 2000; it launched under the same name on September 7, 2001 as a joint venture between Rogers Media (33.34%), Shaw Communications (33.33%) and TechTV (33.33%). On May 28, 2004, it was renamed "G4techTV" as a result of a merge between American cable services TechTV and G4 to become a service under the same name. On February 15, 2005, less than a year after the merger, American service G4techTV was renamed back to "G4". G4techTV Canada kept its name because it would keep its tech-related programming to abide by the rules of its CRTC licence. In June 2006, Shaw Communications opted to sell its interest in the channel to Rogers Media.

Distribution

As a category 1 television service, it is mandatory for all digital cable and direct broadcast satellite providers in Canada to carry the channel that have the capacity to do so.

G4techTV Canada for awhile was broadcasted internationally in the Barbados market. The government-owned Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation in Barbados switched from providing the American-based feed, in favour of the Canadian-based feed for its cable television network known as Multi-Choice TV. Although, the channel has since been removed.

Programming

Although G4techTV Canada airs a large amount of G4 shows such as Attack of the Show!, Code Monkeys, X-Play and more; [http://www.g4techtv.ca/static/schedule.shtml its schedule] largely differs from its American counterpart due to the fact that G4 has shifted towards a male orientated programming direction with less of an emphasis on gaming and technology and more on male general interests.Or|date=December 2007

G4techTV Canada was the final home to "Call for Help" with Leo Laporte. The taping location was moved to the Rogers Media studios in Toronto, Canada after the show was cancelled in the United States as a result of the merger. In early 2007, Call for Help Production was outsourced to "Greedy Productions" in Vancouver, Canada and the show was renamed The Lab with Leo Laporte.

Until 2006, the station was not allowed, by its licence, to broadcast dramatic programming. This [http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2006-09-15/g4techtv-canada-able-to-broadcast-anime changed] in September 2006, and G4techTV can now send a limited amount of drama, such as anime.

Noted programs

* "Anime Current" (similar to "Anime Unleashed")
* "Attack of the Show!"
* "Call for Help" (reruns)
* "CNET TV
* "Code Monkeys
* "EP Daily"
* "Gadgets and Gizmos" (reruns)
* "Hurl!"
* "Major League Gaming Series"
* "Reviews on the Run"
* "Tech Books"
* "The Lab with Leo Laporte"
* "The IT Crowd"
* "Torrent"
* "Unbeatable Banzuke"
* "X-Play"

Logos

ee also

* G4
* TechTV

External links

* [http://www.g4techtv.ca/ G4TechTV Canada]