Editing TechTV (section)

==History==
===Origins===
On August 20, 1994, computer magazine publisher [[Ziff Davis|Ziff-Davis]] entered the television industry with the premiere of ''The Personal Computing Show'', a program that aired on Saturday mornings on [[CNBC]], [[America's Talking]] and the Jones Computing Network. ''The Personal Computing Show'', co-hosted by [[Jim Louderback]] and [[Gina Smith]], targeted a growing demographic of personal computer owners and demonstrated how to purchase, install, maintain and repair personal computers and peripheral devices such as [[Printer (computing)|printers]]. Shortly after ''The Personal Computing Show''{{'s}} premiere, Ziff-Davis revealed plans to produce a second show in October 1994 named ''PC Update'', a half-hour Sunday morning news program hosted by [[Leo Laporte]] and focusing on the computer industry.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-francisco-examiner-tv-taps-need/144200559/ |title=TV taps need for computer literacy |last=Coile |first=Zachary |newspaper=[[The San Francisco Examiner]]|date=August 22, 1994 |pages=D-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-francisco-examiner-tv-taps-part/144202829/ D-6]}}</ref> According to Ziff-Davis spokesman Gregory Jarboe, ''The Personal Computing Show'' was unsuccessful due to its relegation to odd channels and timeslots.<ref name=WestCable>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-eye-on-america/144210157/ |title=Eye on America |last=Rafter |first=Michelle V. |newspaper=[[The Los Angeles Times]] |date=December 29, 1997 |page=D-3}}</ref> When Ziff-Davis's sale to investment firm [[Forstmann Little & Company]] was announced in October 1994, a small [[Foster City, California|Foster City]]-based television operation named "ZD-TV" was listed as a company asset.<ref name="SanF941027">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-francisco-examiner-ziff-davis-so/168133000/|date=October 27, 1994|pages=D-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-francisco-examiner-ziff-davis-so/144198745/ D-3]|title=Ziff-Davis sold for $1.4 billion: Investment firm buys PC publisher|newspaper=[[The San Francisco Examiner]]|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 16, 2025}}</ref><!-- Thu -->

In April 1996, Ziff-Davis announced the establishment of ZDTV as a [[San Francisco]]-based unit specializing in the production of television and internet broadcasts, which would allow the publisher to showcase its products. Its first project was to develop ''[[The Site]]'', a daily hour-long [[prime time]] news show co-hosted by [[Soledad O'Brien]] about the increasing social and economic effects of technology. The program aired on the cable news network [[MSNBC]], which launched on July 15, 1996.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-ziff-davis-starts-tv-sh/143861885/ |title=Softbank's Ziff-Davis starts unit for TV show |newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]] |location=[[Boston]], [[Massachusetts]] |date=April 18, 1996 |page=41}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/santa-maria-times-msnbc-programs/143863425/ |title=Original programs on tap for MSNBC |last=Nessman |first=Ravi |newspaper=[[Santa Maria Times]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=June 7, 1996 |page=B-3}}</ref> It was the third San Francisco-based television program specializing in technology after ''[[CNET Central]]'' and ''Cyberlife''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-francisco-examiner-zdtv-runs-on/143864270/ |title=ZDTV show to run on MSNBC at night |newspaper=[[The San Francisco Examiner]]|date=June 28, 1996 |page=F-1}}</ref> According to Ziff-Davis chief executive Larry Wangberg,<ref name=WestCable/> San Francisco was chosen as ZDTV's headquarters for its proximity to [[Silicon Valley]] and easy access to [[Multimedia Gulch]]-based talent.<ref name=Customized/>

On May 6, 1997, Ziff-Davis announced its plan to launch ZDTV as a 24-hour interactive cable network specializing in computers and the internet. The publisher put $100&nbsp;million (equivalent to ${{Inflation|US|100|1997|r=2}}&nbsp;million in {{Inflation/year|US}}) behind the project and planned to debut the ZDTV channel in early 1998. Projected programming for the channel included talk shows on the impact of technology, business-oriented shows evaluating investments in high-tech stocks, and reviews of software and hardware.<ref name=NewYorkDaily>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-tv-for-pc-crowd/122109644/ |title=TV for PC crowd |last=Kelly |first=Keith J. |newspaper=[[New York Daily News|Daily News]] |location=[[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]] |date=May 7, 1997 |page=56}}</ref> Children's programming was also planned for the weekends.<ref name=DesertSun>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-desert-sun-computer-tv-stakes-out-te/122111839/ |title=Computer TV stakes out territory |newspaper=[[The Desert Sun]] |location=[[Palm Springs, California]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=May 7, 1997 |page=E4}}</ref> The channel had 11 initial charter advertisers, including [[IBM]], [[Gateway 2000]], [[Microsoft]], and [[Charles Schwab Corporation|Charles Schwab]].<ref name=NewYorkDaily/> Ziff-Davis chairman and CEO Eric Hippeau cited the increasing presence of computers in cable television homes and workspaces as motivation for filling the niche of programming about computers, saying "This is a huge audience and it will only get bigger".<ref name=DesertSun/> Wangberg, who would be made the network's CEO, proclaimed Ziff-Davis's ambition of ZDTV becoming "to computing what [[CNN]] is to news, what [[ESPN]] is to sports".<ref name=Customized/> Although Ziff-Davis intended to continue producing ''The Site'' for MSNBC following ZDTV's launch,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/thousand-oaks-star-high-tech-news/144206675/ |title=High-tech news 24 hours a day |newspaper=Thousand Oaks Star |location=[[Thousand Oaks, California]] |agency=''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]'' |date=May 12, 1997 |page=D3}}</ref> the show was canceled in September 1997 as a result of the network's shift toward an all-news format.<ref name=WestCable/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-modesto-bee-the-site-canceled/144205498/ |title=Tech TV show canceled |newspaper=[[The Modesto Bee]] |location=[[Modesto, California]] |date=September 23, 1997 |page=B-4}}</ref> In December 1997, Ziff-Davis revealed at the Western Cable Trade Show in [[Anaheim, California|Anaheim]] that it had secured agreements with four cable operators to carry the network: Prime Cable in Las Vegas, Harron Communications in Detroit, Televue in Georgia, and Prestige Cable in Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland.<ref name=WestCable/> 

===ZDTV===
[[File:ZDTVlogo.svg|thumb|145px|ZDTV logo]]
ZDTV was initially set to launch at the end of 1998's first quarter but was delayed by Ziff-Davis's [[initial public offering]], which was announced on February 18.<ref name=Customized/> ZDTV was separated from Ziff-Davis's publishing operations so as to prevent the former's start-up losses from impacting the latter's balance sheet.<ref name="BC980420">{{Cite news|work=Broadcasting & Cable|first=John|last=Higgins|date=April 20, 1998|pages=70–71|id={{pq|225359677}}|title=Ziff-Davis insulates its ZDTV }}</ref> The network launched on May 11, 1998, on cable systems in Las Vegas, Detroit, parts of Georgia near Atlanta, and parts of [[Maine]]. Inaugural programs included the computer help show ''Call for Help'', the [[Round table (discussion)|round table]] [[Public affairs (broadcasting)|public affairs]] talk show ''Silicon Spin'', the financial advisory show ''The Money Machine'', the website review show ''[[Internet Tonight]]'' and the technological product review show ''[[Fresh Gear]]''.<ref name=ZDTVLaunch>{{Cite web |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/zdtv-launches-monday/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150711004004/https://www.zdnet.com/article/zdtv-launches-monday/ |title=ZDTV launches Monday |first=Martha |last=Stone |website=ZDNet |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |date=May 8, 1998 |archive-date=July 11, 2015 |access-date=March 12, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.cnet.com/2100-1023-211074.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110510085804/http://news.cnet.com/2100-1023-211074.html |title=ZDTV starts broadcasting |last=Krigel |first=Beth Lipton |website=[[CNET News]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |date=May 11, 1998 |archive-date=May 10, 2011 |access-date=March 12, 2025 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The channel had six hours of original programming a day, which at the outset were looped to provide a 24-hour schedule.<ref>{{Cite news|work=Broadcasting & Cable|first=Donna|last=Petrozzello|title=ZDTV logs on|date=May 18, 1998|page=52|id={{pq|225336258}} }}</ref> A program by video gaming website ''[[GameSpot]]'' was projected for a mid-summer release<ref name=ZDTVLaunch/> and premiered as ''GameSpot TV'' on July 4.<ref name=interviewKotaku>{{cite web |url=http://kotaku.com/5991439/internet-killed-the-video-star-the-extraordinary-journey-of-adam-sessler |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130320175525/https://kotaku.com/5991439/internet-killed-the-video-star-the-extraordinary-journey-of-adam-sessler |title=Internet Killed The Video Star: The Extraordinary Journey Of Adam Sessler |last=Schreier |first=Jason |website=[[Kotaku]] |publisher=[[Gawker Media]] |date=March 20, 2013 |archive-date=March 20, 2013 |access-date=September 23, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> On August 1, ZDTV became available nationally on [[DirecTV]] as channel 273.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Foreign-Temp-Workers-Run-Into-Jam-on-Road-to-3000022.php |title=Foreign 'Temp' Workers Run Into Jam on Road to Green Card / While ZDTV looks to attract viewers from Bay Area |first=Tom |last=Abate |date=August 1, 1998 |website=[[SFGate]] |publisher=[[Hearst Communications]]}}</ref> In November, Microsoft co-founder [[Paul Allen]]'s holding company [[Vulcan Ventures]] invested $54&nbsp;million (equivalent to ${{Inflation|US|54|1998|r=2}}&nbsp;million in {{Inflation/year|US}}) in ZDTV, granting it a 33-percent stake in the network.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-francisco-examiner-vulcan-ventur/144311778/ |title=Vulcan Ventures invests in tech TV |newspaper=[[The San Francisco Examiner]]|agency=[[Bloomberg News]] |date=November 18, 1998 |page=B-1}}</ref>

Although ZDTV was critically acclaimed, it struggled to gain a foothold on certain cable lineups, in part because Ziff-Davis eschewed the types of launch fees to cable operators—ranging from $100 to $150 million—that other new channels were providing.{{r|BC980420}}<ref name=Purchase2>{{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-francisco-examiner-allens-vc-fi/144314783/ |title=Allen's VC firm buys ZDTV in S.F. |last=Saracevic |first=Alan T. |newspaper=[[The San Francisco Examiner]]|date=November 19, 1999 |pages=B-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-francisco-examiner-paul-allen-bu/144314899/ B-2]}}</ref> It strained to achieve carriage from [[AT&T Broadband|AT&T]]/[[Tele-Communications Inc.|TCI]] cable lineups and was deemed unprofitable.<ref name=Purchase2/><ref name=SellStake>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-ziff-davis-to-sell/144317237/ |title=Ziff-Davis to Sell Stake in ZDTV |newspaper=[[The Los Angeles Times]] |agency=[[Bloomberg News]] |date=November 20, 1999 |page=C2}}</ref> In an effort to sell company assets to reduce debt and boost its share price, Ziff-Davis put ZDTV up for sale on July 16, 1999.<ref name=Purchase2/><ref name=SellStake/> In November 1999, Vulcan purchased the remaining two-thirds in a transaction that was completed on January 21, 2000. The deal (which permitted the network to retain its name) was worth $204.8&nbsp;million (equivalent to ${{Inflation|US|204.8|1999|r=2}}&nbsp;million in {{Inflation/year|US}}).<ref name=Purchase2/>
[[File:ZDTV crew at QuakeCon 2000.jpg|thumb|alt=Television crews and filming equipment on a platform above tables with rows of CRT monitors in a convention hall|A ZDTV crew covering [[QuakeCon]] 2000]]

===TechTV===
On August 21, 2000, ZDTV's name was changed to TechTV, and Wangberg announced that the network would be added to AT&T and [[Time Warner Cable]]'s digital cable lineups the following month.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-francisco-examiner-behold-digita/144320622/ |title=Behold: Digital cable's ZDTV rechristened techtv |last=Saracevic |first=Alan T. |newspaper=[[The San Francisco Examiner]]|date=August 21, 2000 |pages=B-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-francisco-examiner-digital-cable/144320816/ B-6]}}</ref> In November, TechTV announced the live programming block ''TechLive'', which would premiere on April 2, 2001. Originally scheduled at six hours (five of which would be live), the block's length was finalized at 9.5 hours, and the network described the block as the "nucleus of TechTV's daytime programming". For this venture, the network established a fully digital broadcast center in San Francisco as well as bureaus in [[New York City]], [[Washington, D.C.]], [[Silicon Valley]], and [[Seattle]]. The block also included a [[News ticker|ticker]] which listed the status of leading tech stocks.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/techtv-lineup-go-live-133636 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923204214/https://www.nexttv.com/news/techtv-lineup-go-live-133636 |title=TechTV Lineup to Go Live |last=Moss |first=Linda |website=[[Multichannel News]] |publisher=[[Future plc]] |date=December 3, 2000 |archive-date=September 23, 2021 |access-date=March 18, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.techtv.com/aboutus/pressreleases/story/0%2C23350%2C3329873%2C00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010710034455/http://www.techtv.com/aboutus/pressreleases/story/0,23350,3329873,00.html |title=TechTV Significantly Increases Its Commitment to Live Programming |publisher=TechTV |date=March 27, 2001 |archive-date=July 10, 2001 |access-date=December 13, 2024 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

On February 17, 2001, ''GameSpot TV'' was retitled ''Extended Play'' and became part of TechTV's live broadcasting endeavor, which resulted in a high employee turnover rate.<ref name=interviewKotaku/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.techtv.com/extendedplay/story/0,23008,3311437,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010816003148/http://www.techtv.com/extendedplay/story/0%2C23008%2C3311437%2C00.html |title=TechTV &#124; ''Extended Play'' Is Born |last=Weigel |first=Ray |publisher=TechTV |date=February 13, 2001 |archive-date=August 16, 2001 |access-date=April 22, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.techtv.com/extendedplay/story/0,23008,3312380,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010610160402/http://www.techtv.com/extendedplay/story/0,23008,3312380,00.html |title=TechTV - The Add On Pack - 02/17/01 - Game Engines A Go Go |last=Weigel |first=Ray |publisher=TechTV |date=February 18, 2001 |archive-date=June 10, 2001 |url-status=dead}}</ref> On March 15, TechTV announced that it had laid off approximately a dozen employees as part of a reorganization effort in the face of the waning [[dot-com bubble]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/0-1005-200-5148262.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010406002845/https://www.cnet.com/news/0-1005-200-5148262.html |title=TechTV reorganizes, lays off employees |first=Gwendolyn |last=Mariano |website=[[CNET News]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |date=March 15, 2001 |archive-date=April 6, 2001 |access-date=December 21, 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> On November 16, TechTV announced another layoff of 130 employees. This, combined with the reduction of ''TechLive'' and indifferent online reactions to TechTV's struggles, were interpreted by Farhad Manjoo of ''[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]'' as a sign of declining cultural interest in technology. Anonymous TechTV employees remarked that the increasingly ubiquitous nature of the Internet had rendered the network's mission statement "a bit fantastical" and suggested that the only reason the network was still in business was because "Allen doesn't know what to do with his billions".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.wired.com/news/business/0%2C1367%2C48475%2C00.html?tw=wn_story_related |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031206185354/http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,48475,00.html?tw=wn_story_related |title=Tech TV Cancels 130 Employees |first=Farhad |last=Manjoo |website=[[Wired News]] |publisher=[[Lycos]] |date=November 16, 2001 |archive-date=December 6, 2003 |access-date=December 14, 2024 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

During this time, TechTV expanded internationally. On September 7, 2001, [[G4 (Canadian TV channel)|TechTV Canada]] began broadcasting as one of 16 new English-language digital cable channels approved by the [[Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission]] (CRTC); it was owned by TechTV as well as Canadian companies [[Rogers Sports & Media|Rogers Broadcasting]] and [[Shaw Media|Shaw Communications]].<ref name="Nati010825">{{Unbulleted list citebundle|{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/national-post-digital-dilemma/168617208/|date=August 25, 2001|pages=W1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/national-post-the-sooner-you-get-the-box/168617236/ W4]|first=Christopher|last=Loudon|title=Digital dilemma|newspaper=[[National Post]]|location=Toronto, Ontario, Canada|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 23, 2025}}|{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/national-post-digital-channel-guide/168617148/|date=August 25, 2001|pages=W10, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/national-post-digital-channel-guide/168617181/ W11]|title=Digital channel guide|newspaper=National Post|location=Toronto, Ontario, Canada|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 23, 2025}} }}</ref><!-- Sat --> By 2002, it had 467,000 subscribers.<ref name="Nati030527">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/national-post-techtv-canada-forbidden-to/168617451/|date=May 27, 2003|page=FP8|first=Barbara|last=Shecter|title=TechTV Canada forbidden to show dramas, comedies: CRTC disallows bid to broaden appeal, advertising base|newspaper=National Post|location=Toronto, Ontario, Canada|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 23, 2025}}</ref><!-- Tue -->

Wangberg announced on January 24, 2002, that he would spend the following months searching for a successor in his chairman and CEO position, though at Allen's request he planned to remain on the network's board of directors as well as take a position on [[Charter Communications]]'s board.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/wangberg-steps-down-techtv-138684 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230129164733/https://www.nexttv.com/news/wangberg-steps-down-techtv-138684 |title=Wangberg Steps Down at TechTV |last=Applebaum |first=Simon |website=[[Multichannel News]] |publisher=[[Future plc]] |date=January 24, 2002 |archive-date=January 29, 2023 |access-date=March 18, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> On March 19, TechTV announced its intent to shift focus from tech news and information to consumer-oriented fare. In pursuit of this, the network cancelled ''Silicon Spin'' as well as the digital music program ''AudioFile''; according to senior vice president Greg Drebin, the former series in particular "was targeted a little more to the industry than our viewers accepted".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/techtv-shifts-programming-focus/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230814050011/https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/techtv-shifts-programming-focus/ |title=TechTV shifts programming focus |last=Festa |first=Paul |website=[[CNET]] |publisher=[[Red Ventures]] |date=March 19, 2002 |archive-date=August 14, 2023 |access-date=March 21, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> On April 24, ''TechLive'' was cut further to a thirty-minute daily news magazine show with a stronger focus on technology's cultural aspect, resulting in 50 more employees being dismissed. The airtime previously occupied by the now-diminished ''TechLive'' was filled by acquired programs that reflected the network's new focus, including ''[[Max Headroom (TV series)|Max Headroom]]'', ''[[Techno Games]]'', ''[[Future Fighting Machines]]'', and ''[[Thunderbirds (TV series)|Thunderbirds]]''. The network also acquired the rights for the films ''[[Coma (1978 film)|Coma]]'' (1978), ''[[Demon Seed]]'' (1977), and ''[[Forbidden Planet]]'' (1956).<ref>{{cite news |url=http://wired.com/news/business/0%2C1367%2C52076%2C00.html?tw=wn_story_related |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040801025230/http://wired.com/news/business/0,1367,52076,00.html?tw=wn_story_related |title=Tech TV Cancels 50 More Employees |first=Farhad |last=Manjoo |website=[[Wired News]] |publisher=[[Lycos]] |date=April 24, 2002 |archive-date=August 1, 2004 |access-date=December 15, 2024 |url-status=dead}}</ref> By October, the network was affiliated with [[Wichita, Kansas|Wichita]]-based [[Low-power broadcasting#Television|low-power]] television station [[KAGW-CD|KTQW]], its content occupying the [[prime time]], [[Late-night television|late-night]], and [[graveyard slot]]s.<ref name="Wich021015">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-wichita-eagle-low-power-ktqw-wins-fo/168131699/|date=October 15, 2002|page=4C|first=Bob|last=Curtright|title=Low-power KTQW wins four awards|newspaper=[[The Wichita Eagle]]|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 16, 2025}}</ref><!-- Tue --> The [[anime]] programming block Anime Unleashed premiered on December 30 with the debut of ''[[Crest of the Stars]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.awn.com/index.php3?ltype=top&newsitem_no=7901 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030320171650/http://news.awn.com/index.php3?ltype=top&newsitem_no=7901 |title=TechTV Announces Anime Unleashed |website=[[Animation World Network]] |date=January 6, 2003 |archive-date=March 20, 2003 |access-date=March 18, 2025 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The network continued expanding into lifestyle programming through 2003.<ref name=Transforms>{{cite web |url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/techtv-transforms-itself-97759 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507063011/https://www.nexttv.com/news/techtv-transforms-itself-97759 |title=TechTV Transforms Itself |last=Romano |first=Allison |website=[[Broadcasting & Cable]] |publisher=[[Future US]] |date=February 9, 2003 |archive-date=May 7, 2021 |access-date=March 20, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> On January 6, senior vice president of programming Greg Brannan announced the upcoming series ''Wired for Sex'' as well as the acquisition of the [[Bravo (British TV channel)|Bravo]] series ''Spy School''.<ref name=Brannan>{{cite web |url=https://www.c21media.net/news/brannan-unveils-entertainment-focus-for-techtv/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250408132112/https://www.c21media.net/news/brannan-unveils-entertainment-focus-for-techtv/ |title=Brannan unveils entertainment focus for TechTV |last=Fraser |first=Fiona |publisher=C21Media |date=January 7, 2003 |archive-date=April 8, 2025 |access-date=March 18, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/techtv-sex-espionage-and-animation-162989 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929083748/https://www.nexttv.com/news/techtv-sex-espionage-and-animation-162989 |title=TechTV: Sex, Espionage and Animation |last=Umstead |first=R. Thomas |website=[[Multichannel News]] |publisher=[[Future plc]] |date=January 7, 2003 |archive-date=September 29, 2020 |access-date=March 18, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> Both series would premiere in primetime on the week of April 28.<ref name=Spices>{{cite web |url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/techtv-spices-late-night-142996 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227160614/https://www.nexttv.com/news/techtv-spices-late-night-142996 |title=TechTV Spices Up Late-Night |last=Moss |first=Linda |website=[[Multichannel News]] |publisher=[[Future plc]] |date=March 3, 2003 |archive-date=February 27, 2021 |access-date=March 18, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> Allison Romano of ''[[Broadcasting & Cable]]'' reported in February that the network's ratings had hovered at 0.1 despite a reach of 40 million homes; TechTV head of marketing Gaynor Strachan Chun added that the network's independent status impeded its ability to cross-promote across any [[Sister station|sister or cousin network]].<ref name=Transforms/>

On March 3, Brannan announced the upcoming launch of a late-night programming block on April 28. The block would air Monday through Thursday and lead off with the acquired British series ''[[Robot Wars (TV series)|Robot Wars]]''.<ref name=Spices/> The revamped ''Extended Play'', now named ''[[Xplay|X-Play]]'', was moved to this block and became a ratings success.<ref name=interviewKotaku/><ref name=Spices/> Anime Unleashed, already a late-night fixture, aired on the block's tail end.<ref name=Spices/> On May 26, the [[late-night talk show]] ''Unscrewed with Martin Sargent'' premiered on the block.<ref name=Spices/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.techtv.com/tvshows/story/0%2C23350%2C3418934%2C00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030810201044/http://www.techtv.com/tvshows/story/0,23350,3418934,00.html |title=''Unscrewed With Martin Sargent'' |publisher=TechTV |archive-date=August 10, 2003 |access-date=March 18, 2025 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Similar changes were blocked in Canada by the CRTC, which denied approval to let TechTV Canada show dramas or comedies.{{r|Nati030527}}

===Merger and consolidation===
In May 2003, TechTV retained Greenbridge Partners investment banker Mike Yagemann to explore partners or buyers for the network. According to an executive familiar with the network, it had incurred $120&nbsp;million (equivalent to ${{Inflation|US|120|2003|r=2}}&nbsp;million in {{Inflation/year|US}}) in operating losses for owner Paul Allen since its 2000 acquisition.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/techtv-hires-banker-shop-network-73227 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411133011/https://www.nexttv.com/news/techtv-hires-banker-shop-network-73227 |title=TechTV hires banker to shop network |last=Higgins |first=John M. |website=[[Broadcasting & Cable]] |publisher=[[Future US]] |date=May 19, 2003 |archive-date=April 11, 2021 |access-date=March 18, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> In December, rumors circulated of an impending purchase of TechTV by [[Comcast]], the largest American cable carrier at the time. Such a purchase was expected to entail the merger of TechTV with Comcast's own video gaming channel [[G4 (American TV network)|G4]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wired.com/news/business/0%2C1367%2C61627-2%2C00.html?tw=wn_story_page_next1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031226212446/http://wired.com/news/business/0,1367,61627-2,00.html?tw=wn_story_page_next1 |title=TV Execs Go Gaga Over Gaming |last=Gaudiosi |first=John |website=[[Wired News]] |publisher=[[Lycos]] |date=December 17, 2003 |archive-date=December 26, 2003 |access-date=March 11, 2025 |url-status=dead}}</ref> On March 25, 2004, Comcast announced its purchase of TechTV, estimated by close sources to be under $300&nbsp;million (equivalent to ${{Inflation|US|300|2004|r=2}}&nbsp;million in {{Inflation/year|US}}), as well as its upcoming merger of the network with G4.<ref name=FostBuy>{{cite web |url=http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Comcast-buys-TechTV-Cable-giant-to-fold-channel-2803325.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140825090348/http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Comcast-buys-TechTV-Cable-giant-to-fold-channel-2803325.php |title=Comcast buys TechTV: Cable giant to fold channel from S.F. into video game unit |first=Dan |last=Fost |website=[[SFGate]] |date=March 26, 2004 |archive-date=August 25, 2014 |access-date=November 24, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> At the time of the purchase, TechTV was available in 43 million households via cable and satellite, while G4 was available in 1.5 million households, thus allowing the combined network to reach 44 million households.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.wired.com/news/digiwood/0%2C1412%2C63879%2C00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040619144119/https://www.wired.com/news/digiwood/0,1412,63879,00.html |title=TechTV Fans Mad as Hell |first=Stacie D. |last=Cramer |work=[[Wired News]] |date=June 17, 2004 |archive-date=June 19, 2004 |access-date=January 4, 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

John Higgins of ''[[Broadcasting & Cable]]'' pointed out that TechTV's ratings were minuscule despite its reach, signifying the network's difficulty in securing viewers in the increasingly fragmented market of cable television. Dan Fost of the ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]'' also mentioned that the network's layoffs and programming changes were necessitated by the dot-com crash eliminating several of the network's advertisers.<ref name=FostBuy/> TechTV [[chief operating officer]] Joseph Gillespie, in 2018, recalled that the sale was driven by the acknowledgement of the internet proving to be a superior platform for publishing and distributing diverse, fast-evolving technology content, as television was too slow and costly. He noted the irony of TechTV being disrupted by the very technology it covered.<ref name=Rutgers>{{cite web |url=https://comminfo.rutgers.edu/news/intern-ceo-alums-road-success-media-industry |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200502145809/https://comminfo.rutgers.edu/news/intern-ceo-alums-road-success-media-industry |title=From Intern to CEO – An Alum’s Road to Success in the Media Industry |publisher=[[Rutgers University]] |date=June 11, 2018 |archive-date=May 2, 2020 |access-date=March 12, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Around May 6, TechTV announced the termination of 285 employees from the San Francisco office by July 16, allowing approximately 80 to 100 employees to transition to G4's main office in [[Los Angeles]] if they agreed to relocate there.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.wired.com/news/business/0%2C1367%2C63376%2C00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040619050530/http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,63376,00.html |title=TechTV to Lay Off 285 |last=Asaravala |first=Amit |website=[[Wired News]] |publisher=[[Lycos]] |date=May 7, 2004 |archive-date=June 19, 2004 |access-date=March 11, 2025 |url-status=dead}}</ref> On May 10, Comcast completed its acquisition of TechTV from Vulcan, and merged it with G4 to form [[G4techTV]] on May 28.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://38.119.81.11/html/about/press/showrelease.asp?pressrelease_key=47 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040525101418/http://38.119.81.11/html/about/press/showrelease.asp?pressrelease_key=47 |title=Comcast Completes Acquisition of TechTV |website=[[G4 (American TV network)|G4]] |publisher=[[G4 Media (TV company)|G4 Media]] |date=May 10, 2004 |archive-date=May 25, 2004 |access-date=March 11, 2025 |url-status=dead}}</ref> TechTV Canada underwent a similar name change on the same day.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.channelcanada.com/Article466.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071028060713/http://www.channelcanada.com/Article466.html |title=Tech TV Canada gets a new name and new programming |website=Channel Canada |date=May 17, 2004 |archive-date=October 28, 2007 |access-date=May 22, 2025 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

On January 11, 2005, G4 founder and CEO [[Charles Hirschhorn]] announced that, effective February 15, G4techTV's name would revert to G4 and receive a new presentation and programming primarily targeting male gamers in the 12–34 age bracket.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.g4techtv.com/html/about/press/showrelease.asp?pressrelease_key=64 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050113172846/http://www.g4techtv.com/html/about/press/showrelease.asp?pressrelease_key=64 |title=Video Game Television - Shifts Into Overdrive in '05 with Two New Series ''Formula D'' and ''Girls Gone Wired'' |website=G4TechTV |publisher=[[G4 Media (TV company)|G4 Media]] |date=January 11, 2005 |archive-date=January 13, 2005 |access-date=March 1, 2025 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Hirschhorn intended to veer the network away from TechTV's older tech enthusiast audience in favor of teenage males, and according to insiders, the G4techTV title was a temporary measure to appease cable operators, with a complete G4 brand being the ultimate goal. James Hibberd of ''[[TelevisionWeek]]'', in hindsight, equated the merger to a real estate transaction to increase G4's circulation.<ref name="TVWe050207">{{cite web |url=https://www.tvweek.com/in-depth/2005/02/g4-a-costly-quest-for-viewers/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116235021/https://www.tvweek.com/in-depth/2005/02/g4-a-costly-quest-for-viewers/ |title=G4: A Costly Quest for Viewers |website=[[TVWeek]] |publisher=Dexter Canfield Media |date=February 7, 2005 |archive-date=January 16, 2021 |access-date=March 16, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> G4techTV Canada's branding would remain until 2009, when it became a [[G4 (Canadian TV channel)|Canadian version of G4]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mediaincanada.com/2017/07/11/rogers-media-shuttering-g4/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170814030622/http://mediaincanada.com:80/2017/07/11/rogers-media-shuttering-g4/ |title=G4 is powering down after 17 years in Canada |last=Maloney |first=Val |website=Media in Canada |publisher=[[Brunico Communications]] |date=July 11, 2017 |archive-date=August 14, 2017 |access-date=May 22, 2025 |url-status=dead}}</ref>