History Creator / TechTV

The [[NetworkDeath network]] [[{{Retool}} rebranded itself]] as [=TechTV=] in 2000 after [=CNet=] purchased [=ZDNet=] and sold the network's assets to Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. It soon launched a major push into live programming with ''[=TechLive=]'', an unprecedented nine-hour block of live programming every weekday, which eventually mutated into several live or semi-live shows such as ''The Screen Savers'', ''Unscrewed With Martin Sargent'', and ''Call For Help''. The network also ran a handful of taped shows, including video game review show ''Gamespot TV'', which later became ''Extended Play'' and ''Series/XPlay''. Late into its run, it also broadcast a handful of {{anime}} series, including ''LightNovel/CrestOfTheStars'' and ''Anime/TheSoulTaker'', as something of an answer to Creator/AdultSwim, as well as cult TV series like ''Series/{{Thunderbirds}}'' and ''Series/MaxHeadroom''.

The [[NetworkDeath network]] [[{{Retool}} rebranded itself]] as [=TechTV=] in 2000 after [=CNet=] purchased [=ZDNet=] and sold the network's assets to Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. It soon launched a major push into live programming with an unprecedented nine-hour block of live programming every weekday, which eventually mutated into several live or semi-live shows such as ''The Screen Savers'', ''Unscrewed With Martin Sargent'', and ''Call For Help''. The network also ran a handful of taped shows, including video game review show ''Gamespot TV'', which later became ''Extended Play'' and ''Series/XPlay''. Late into its run, it also broadcast a handful of {{anime}} series, including ''LightNovel/CrestOfTheStars'' and ''Anime/TheSoulTaker'', as something of an answer to Creator/AdultSwim, as well as cult TV series like ''Series/{{Thunderbirds}}'' and ''Series/MaxHeadroom''.

[=TechTV=] always had money issues, which manifested as layoffs throughout the early part of its life. Its major cable carriage came from sister company Charter Communications, which has long held a reputation within the cable industry as a struggling company. The attacks of September 11th, 2001 doomed the long-form tech news format, and the rise of RSS newsfeeds made it easy to track a certain company or subject through online sources instead of waiting for a linear news format to report on them.

[[FailureIsTheOnlyOption Of course, it never stood a chance of surviving.]]

[=TechTV=] always had money issues, which manifested as layoffs throughout the early part of its life. Its major cable carriage came from sister company Charter Communications, which has long "enjoyed" a reputation within the cable industry as a struggling company. The attacks of September 11th, 2001 doomed the long-form tech news format -- which had already struggled beforehand, since one can only talk about tech companies in so many ways without seeming redundant -- and the rise of RSS newsfeeds made it easy to track a certain company or subject through online sources instead of waiting for a linear news format to report on them. The network rebounded in 2003 thanks to good ratings for a number of its new shows, primarily ''Unscrewed''. This rebound happened shortly ''after'' Comcast dropped [=TechTV=] from its lineups nationwide in favor of Creator/G4TV, a Comcast-owned network that focused on video games.

Rumors say Comcast replaced [=TechTV=] in order to [[ScrewedByTheNetwork devalue the network]] in pursuit of its eventual goal: acquisition and dismantling. In 2004, Comcast bought [=TechTV=] and [[NetworkDeath merged it]] into "[=G4TechTV=]," then issued an [[ExecutiveMeddling ultimatum]] to the casts and crews of all of [=TechTV's=] shows: "Move to Los Angeles or you're fired." The vast majority of the staff and talent decided they'd rather quit, and in hindsight, they made the smart decision: [[ScrewedByTheNetwork nearly everyone who moved south saw their shows get cancelled within months]], and the few shows [=G4TV=] kept around suffered from meddling to an absurd degree. In less than a year, the network had dropped any pretense of loyalty to the [=TechTV=] name and reverted back to G4. Prior to the end of 2012, ''Series/XPlay'' stood as the last remaining show from the [=TechTV=] days to still run on the network. [=G4TV=] [[{{Retool}} retooled]] ''The Screen Savers'' into ''Series/AttackOfTheShow'', which, while ending up with a cult following of its own, looked nothing like its original parent program. At the end of 2012, both shows ended up getting cancelled and the network would [[NetworkDeath shut down]] on December 31st, 2014.

The [[NetworkDeath network]] [[{{Retool}} rebranded itself]] as [=TechTV=] in 2000 after [=CNet=] purchased [=ZDNet=] and sold the network's assets to Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. It soon launched a major push into live programming with an unprecedented nine-hour block of live programming every weekday, which eventually mutated into several live or semi-live shows such as ''The Screen Savers'', ''Unscrewed With Martin Sargent'', and ''Call For Help''. The network also ran a handful of taped shows, including video game review show ''Gamespot TV'', which later became ''Extended Play'' and ''Series/XPlay''. Late into its run, it also broadcast a handful of {{anime}} series, including ''LightNovel/CrestOfTheStars'' and ''Anime/TheSoulTaker'', as something of an answer to Creator/AdultSwim.

The [[NetworkDeath network]] [[{{Retool}} rebranded itself]] as [=TechTV=] in 2000 after [=CNet=] purchased [=ZDNet=] and sold the network's assets to {{Microsoft}} co-founder Paul Allen. It soon launched a major push into live programming with an unprecedented nine-hour block of live programming every weekday, which eventually mutated into several live or semi-live shows such as ''The Screen Savers'', ''Unscrewed With Martin Sargent'', and ''Call For Help''. The network also ran a handful of taped shows, including video game review show ''Gamespot TV'', which later became ''Extended Play'' and ''Series/XPlay''. Late into its run, it also broadcast a handful of {{anime}} series, including ''LightNovel/CrestOfTheStars'' and ''Anime/TheSoulTaker'', as something of an answer to Creator/AdultSwim.

* Chris Pirillo (Host of ''Call For Help'' with Leo Laporte as co-host; went back to focusing on Lockergnome full-time; eventually founded the Galaxaar Pop Culture Marketplace events).

* Chris Pirillo (Host of ''Call For Help'', taking over from Leo Laporte; went back to focusing on Lockergnome full-time; eventually founded the Galaxaar Pop Culture Marketplace events).

* Chris Pirillo (Host of Call For Help taking over from Leo Laporte; went back to focusing on Lockergnome full-time; eventually founded the Galaxaar Pop Culture Marketplace events).

* Chris Pirillo (Host of Call For Help; went back to focusing on Lockergnome full-time; eventually founded the Galaxaar Pop Culture Marketplace events).

Of course, it never stood a chance of surviving.

[=TechTV=] always had money issues, which manifested as layoffs throughout the early part of its life. Its major cable carriage came from sister company Charter Communications, which has long "enjoyed" a reputation within the cable industry as a struggling company. The attacks at the World Trade Center in New York, New York and the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia on September 11th, 2001 doomed the long-form tech news format -- which had already struggled beforehand, since one can only talk about tech companies in so many ways without seeming redundant -- and the rise of RSS newsfeeds made it easy to track a certain company or subject through online sources instead of waiting for a linear news format to report on them. The network rebounded in 2003 thanks to good ratings for a number of its new shows, primarily ''Unscrewed''. This rebound happened shortly ''after'' Comcast dropped [=TechTV=] from its lineups nationwide in favor of Creator/G4TV, a Comcast-owned network that focused on video games.

Rumors say Comcast replaced [=TechTV=] in order to [[ScrewedByTheNetwork devalue the network]] in pursuit of its eventual goal. In 2004, Comcast bought [=TechTV=] and [[NetworkDeath merged it]] into [=G4TV=], then issued an [[ExecutiveMeddling ultimatum]] to the casts and crews of all of [=TechTV's=] shows: "Move to Los Angeles or you're fired." The vast majority of the staff and talent chose Option B, and in hindsight, they made the smart decision: [[ScrewedByTheNetwork nearly everyone who picked Option A saw their shows get cancelled within months]], and the few shows [=G4TV=] kept around suffered from meddling to an absurd degree. Prior to the end of 2012, ''Series/XPlay'' stood as the last remaining show from the [=TechTV=] days to still run on the network. [=G4TV=] [[{{Retool}} retooled]] ''TheScreenSavers'' into ''Series/AttackOfTheShow'', which ended up looking nothing like its original parent program. At the end of 2012, both shows ended up getting cancelled and the network would [[NetworkDeath shut down]] on December 31st, 2014.

The network [[{{Retool}} rebranded itself]] as [=TechTV=] in 2000 after [=CNet=] purchased [=ZDNet=] and sold the network's assets to {{Microsoft}} co-founder Paul Allen. It soon launched a major push into live programming with an unprecedented nine-hour block of live programming every weekday, which eventually mutated into several live or semi-live shows such as ''The Screen Savers'', ''Unscrewed With Martin Sargent'', and ''Call For Help''. The network also ran a handful of taped shows, including video game review show ''Gamespot TV'', which later became ''Extended Play'' and ''Series/XPlay''. Late into its run, it also broadcast a handful of {{anime}} series, including ''LightNovel/CrestOfTheStars'' and ''Anime/TheSoulTaker'', as something of an answer to Creator/AdultSwim.

Rumors say Comcast replaced [=TechTV=] in order to [[ScrewedByTheNetwork devalue the network]] in pursuit of its eventual goal. In 2004, Comcast bought [=TechTV=] and merged it [=G4TV=], then issued an [[ExecutiveMeddling ultimatum]] to the casts and crews of all of [=TechTV's=] shows: "Move to Los Angeles or you're fired." The vast majority of the staff and talent chose Option B, and in hindsight, they made the smart decision: [[ScrewedByTheNetwork nearly everyone who picked Option A saw their shows get cancelled within months]], and the few shows [=G4TV=] kept around suffered from meddling to an absurd degree. Prior to the end of 2012, ''Series/XPlay'' stood as the last remaining show from the [=TechTV=] days to still run on the network. [=G4TV=] [[{{Retool}} retooled]] ''TheScreenSavers'' into ''Series/AttackOfTheShow'', which ended up looking nothing like its original parent program. At the end of 2012, both shows ended up getting cancelled and the network would shut down on December 31st, 2014.

* Kevin Rose (Host of ''AttackOfTheShow''; co-created {{Digg}}, now runs [=Revision3=], and works for Google -- who acquired his startup for a good amount of money)

[=TechTV=] always had money issues, which manifested as layoffs throughout the early part of its life. Its major cable carriage came from sister company Charter Communications, which has long "enjoyed" a reputation within the cable industry as a struggling company. The attacks at the World Trade Center in New York, New York and the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia in 2001 doomed the long-form tech news format -- which had already struggled beforehand, since one can only talk about tech companies in so many ways without seeming redundant -- and the rise of RSS newsfeeds made it easy to track a certain company or subject through online sources instead of waiting for a linear news format to report on them. The network rebounded in 2003 thanks to good ratings for a number of its new shows, primarily ''Unscrewed''. This rebound happened shortly ''after'' Comcast dropped [=TechTV=] from its lineups nationwide in favor of Creator/G4TV, a Comcast-owned network that focused on video games.

[=TechTV=] always had money issues, which manifested as layoffs throughout the early part of its life. Its major cable carriage came from sister company Charter Communications, which has long "enjoyed" a reputation within the cable industry as a struggling company. The September 11th attacks doomed the long-form tech news format -- which had already struggled beforehand, since one can only talk about tech companies in so many ways without seeming redundant -- and the rise of RSS newsfeeds made it easy to track a certain company or subject through online sources instead of waiting for a linear news format to report on them. The network rebounded in 2003 thanks to good ratings for a number of its new shows, primarily ''Unscrewed''. This rebound happened shortly ''after'' Comcast dropped [=TechTV=] from its lineups nationwide in favor of Creator/G4TV, a Comcast-owned network that focused on video games.

Rumors say Comcast replaced [=TechTV=] in order to [[ScrewedByTheNetwork devalue the network]] in pursuit of its eventual goal. In 2004, Comcast bought [=TechTV=] and merged it [=G4TV=], then issued an [[ExecutiveMeddling ultimatum]] to the casts and crews of all of [=TechTV's=] shows: "Move to Los Angeles or you're fired." The vast majority of the staff and talent chose Option B, and in hindsight, they made the smart decision: [[ScrewedByTheNetwork nearly everyone who picked Option A saw their shows get cancelled within months]], and the few shows [=G4TV=] kept around suffered from meddling to an absurd degree. Prior to the end of 2012, ''Series/XPlay'' stood as the last remaining show from the [=TechTV=] days to still run on the network. [=G4TV=] [[{{Retool}} retooled]] ''TheScreenSavers'' into ''Series/AttackOfTheShow'', which ended up looking nothing like its original parent program. At the end of 2012, both shows ended up getting cancelled and the network would shut down on December 31, 2014.

[[{{Networks}} Cable television network]] '''''[=TechTV=]''''', originally named [=ZDTV=] after original parent company Ziff-Davis, launched in 1998 to capitalize on the rapidly-increasing technology boom and devoted itself entirely to timely, topical, and ''good'' programming about technology and the internet. The channel soon became a popular source for news and commentary about the tech world for those who received it. During the channel's entire 6-year-run, it was located in San Francisco, California.

-> '''Zodd:''' Don't you think we can do a little better than DTV?
-> '''Phil:''' Why, what's wrong with DTV? It's television for demons, we're demons -- it's perfect.
-> '''Zodd:''' Yeah, but you know how these specialty cable networks are: they start out real good, but then they lose their focus and things go downhill real quick. [[NetworkDecay Just look at what happened to G4!]]
-->-- ''WebVideo/BerserkAbridged''

* Morgan Webb (Co-host of ''X-Play'' who started out as on-screen talent for ''The Screen Savers''; co-hosted ''Series/XPlay'' until it ended in 2012; now with ActivisionBlizzard)

* Adam Sessler (The original host of ''Gamespot TV''/''Extended Play''; co-hosted ''Series/XPlay'' until he was fired in 2012; now leads [=Revision3=]'s gaming division)

Rumors say Comcast replaced [=TechTV=] in order to [[ScrewedByTheNetwork devalue the network]] in pursuit of its eventual goal. In 2004, Comcast bought [=TechTV=] and merged it [=G4TV=], then issued an [[ExecutiveMeddling ultimatum]] to the casts and crews of all of [=TechTV's=] shows: "Move to Los Angeles or you're fired." The vast majority of the staff and talent chose Option B, and in hindsight, they made the smart decision: [[ScrewedByTheNetwork nearly everyone who picked Option A saw their shows get cancelled within months]], and the few shows [=G4TV=] kept around suffered from meddling to an absurd degree. Prior to the end of 2012, ''Series/XPlay'' stood as the last remaining show from the [=TechTV=] days to still run on the network. [=G4TV=] [[{{Retool}} retooled]] ''TheScreenSavers'' into ''Series/AttackOfTheShow'', which ended up looking nothing like its original parent program. At the end of 2012, both shows ended up getting cancelled as the network will shut down at the end of 2014.

Rumors say Comcast replaced [=TechTV=] in order to [[ScrewedByTheNetwork devalue the network]] in pursuit of its eventual goal. In 2004, Comcast bought [=TechTV=] and merged it [=G4TV=], then issued an [[ExecutiveMeddling ultimatum]] to the casts and crews of all of [=TechTV's=] shows: "Move to Los Angeles or you're fired." The vast majority of the staff and talent chose Option B, and in hindsight, they made the smart decision: [[ScrewedByTheNetwork nearly everyone who picked Option A saw their shows get cancelled within months]], and the few shows [=G4TV=] kept around suffered from meddling to an absurd degree. Prior to the end of 2012, ''Series/XPlay'' stood as the last remaining show from the [=TechTV=] days to still run on the network. [=G4TV=] [[{{Retool}} retooled]] ''TheScreenSavers'' into ''Series/AttackOfTheShow'', which ended up looking nothing like its original parent program. At the end of 2012, both shows ended up getting cancelled as the network has planned on shutting down sometime in 2014.

* Adam Sessler (The original host of ''Gamespot TV''/''Extended Play''; co-hosted ''XPlay'' until he was fired in 2012; now leads [=Revision3=]'s gaming division)

* Morgan Webb (Co-host of ''X-Play'' who started out as on-screen talent for ''The Screen Savers''; co-hosted ''XPlay'' until it ended in 2012; now with ActivisionBlizzard)

The network [[{{Retool}} rebranded itself]] as [=TechTV=] in 2000 after [=CNet=] purchased [=ZDNet=] and sold the network's assets to {{Microsoft}} co-founder Paul Allen. It soon launched a major push into live programming with an unprecedented nine-hour block of live programming every weekday, which eventually mutated into several live or semi-live shows such as ''The Screen Savers'', ''Unscrewed With Martin Sargent'', and ''Call For Help''. The network also ran a handful of taped shows, including video game review show ''Gamespot TV'', which later became ''Extended Play'' and ''XPlay''. Late into its run, it also broadcast a handful of {{anime}} series, including ''LightNovel/CrestOfTheStars'' and ''Anime/TheSoulTaker'', as something of an answer to Creator/AdultSwim.

Rumors say Comcast replaced [=TechTV=] in order to [[ScrewedByTheNetwork devalue the network]] in pursuit of its eventual goal. In 2004, Comcast bought [=TechTV=] and merged it [=G4TV=], then issued an [[ExecutiveMeddling ultimatum]] to the casts and crews of all of [=TechTV's=] shows: "Move to Los Angeles or you're fired." The vast majority of the staff and talent chose Option B, and in hindsight, they made the smart decision: [[ScrewedByTheNetwork nearly everyone who picked Option A saw their shows get cancelled within months]], and the few shows [=G4TV=] kept around suffered from meddling to an absurd degree. Prior to the end of 2012, ''XPlay'' stood as the last remaining show from the [=TechTV=] days to still run on the network. [=G4TV=] [[{{Retool}} retooled]] ''TheScreenSavers'' into ''Series/AttackOfTheShow'', which ended up looking nothing like its original parent program. At the end of 2012, both shows ended up getting cancelled as the network has planned on shutting down sometime in 2014.

* Morgan Webb (Co-host of ''X-Play'' who started out as on-screen talent for ''The Screen Savers''; co-hosted ''XPlay'' until it ended in 2012)

Rumors say Comcast replaced [=TechTV=] in order to [[ScrewedByTheNetwork devalue the network]] in pursuit of its eventual goal. In 2004, Comcast bought [=TechTV=] and merged it [=G4TV=], then issued an [[ExecutiveMeddling ultimatum]] to the casts and crews of all of [=TechTV's=] shows: "Move to Los Angeles or you're fired." The vast majority of the staff and talent chose Option B, and in hindsight, they made the smart decision: [[ScrewedByTheNetwork nearly everyone who picked Option A saw their shows get cancelled within months]], and the few shows [=G4TV=] kept around suffered from meddling to an absurd degree. Prior to the end of 2012, ''XPlay'' stood as the last remaining show from the [=TechTV=] days to still run on the network. [=G4TV=] [[{{Retool}} retooled]] ''TheScreenSavers'' into ''Series/AttackOfTheShow'', which ended up looking nothing like its original parent program. At the end of 2012, both shows ended up getting cancelled as the network is planned to be defunct sometime in 2014.

Rumors say Comcast replaced [=TechTV=] in order to [[ScrewedByTheNetwork devalue the network]] in pursuit of its eventual goal. In 2004, Comcast bought [=TechTV=] and merged it [=G4TV=], then issued an [[ExecutiveMeddling ultimatum]] to the casts and crews of all of [=TechTV's=] shows: "Move to Los Angeles or you're fired." The vast majority of the staff and talent chose Option B, and in hindsight, they made the smart decision: [[ScrewedByTheNetwork nearly everyone who picked Option A saw their shows get cancelled within months]], and the few shows [=G4TV=] kept around suffered from meddling to an absurd degree. Prior to the end of 2012, ''XPlay'' stood as the last remaining show from the [=TechTV=] days to still run on the network. [=G4TV=] [[{{Retool}} retooled]] ''TheScreenSavers'' into ''Series/AttackOfTheShow'', which ended up looking nothing like its original parent program. At the end of 2012, both shows ended up getting cancelled as the network is planned to be defunct in January 2014.

The network [[{{Retool}} rebranded itself]] as [=TechTV=] in 2000 after [=CNet=] purchased [=ZDNet=] and sold the network's assets to {{Microsoft}} co-founder Paul Allen. It soon launched a major push into live programming with an unprecedented nine-hour block of live programming every weekday, which eventually mutated into several live or semi-live shows such as ''The Screen Savers'', ''Unscrewed With Martin Sargent'', and ''Call For Help''. The network also ran a handful of taped shows, including video game review show ''Gamespot TV'', which later became ''Extended Play'' and ''XPlay''. Late into its run, it also broadcast a handful of {{anime}} series, including ''CrestOfTheStars'' and ''Anime/TheSoulTaker'', as something of an answer to Creator/AdultSwim.

The network [[{{Retool}} rebranded itself]] as [=TechTV=] in 2000 after [=CNet=] purchased [=ZDNet=] and sold the network's assets to {{Microsoft}} co-founder Paul Allen. It soon launched a major push into live programming with an unprecedented nine-hour block of live programming every weekday, which eventually mutated into several live or semi-live shows such as ''The Screen Savers'', ''Unscrewed With Martin Sargent'', and ''Call For Help''. The network also ran a handful of taped shows, including video game review show ''Gamespot TV'', which later became ''Extended Play'' and ''XPlay''. Late into its run, it also broadcast a handful of {{anime}} series, including ''CrestOfTheStars'' and ''Anime/SoulTaker'', as something of an answer to Creator/AdultSwim.

[[{{Networks}} Cable television network]] '''''TechTV''''', originally named [=ZDTV=] after original parent company Ziff-Davis, launched in 1998 to capitalize on the rapidly-increasing technology boom and devoted itself entirely to timely, topical, and ''good'' programming about technology and the internet. The channel soon became a popular source for news and commentary about the tech world for those who received it. During the channel's entire 6-year-run, it was located in San Francisco, California.

[=TechTV=] always had money issues, which manifested as layoffs throughout the early part of its life. Its major cable carriage came from sister company Charter Communications, which has long "enjoyed" a reputation within the cable industry as a struggling company. The September 11th attacks doomed the long-form tech news format -- which had already struggled beforehand, since one can only talk about tech companies in so many ways without seeming redundant -- and the rise of RSS newsfeeds made it easy to track a certain company or subject through online sources instead of waiting for a linear news format to report on them. The network rebounded in 2003 thanks to good ratings for a number of its new shows, primarily ''Unscrewed''. This rebound happened shortly ''after'' Comcast dropped TechTV from its lineups nationwide in favor of Creator/G4TV, a Comcast-owned network that focused on video games.

Rumors say Comcast replaced [=TechTV=] in order to [[ScrewedByTheNetwork devalue the network]] in pursuit of its eventual goal. In 2004, Comcast bought [=TechTV=] and merged it with G4TV, then issued an [[ExecutiveMeddling ultimatum]] to the casts and crews of all of [=TechTV's=] shows: "Move to Los Angeles or you're fired." The vast majority of the staff and talent chose Option B, and in hindsight, they made the smart decision: [[ScrewedByTheNetwork nearly everyone who picked Option A saw their shows get cancelled within months]], and the few shows G4TV kept around suffered from meddling to an absurd degree. Prior to the end of 2012, ''XPlay'' stood as the last remaining show from the [=TechTV=] days to still run on the network. G4TV [[{{Retool}} retooled]] ''TheScreenSavers'' into ''Series/AttackOfTheShow'', which ended up looking nothing like its original parent program. At the end of 2012, both shows ended up getting cancelled as the network is undergoing a retooling of its own thanks to a new partnership with Esquire Magazine.