News > Geek > TechTV Returns as UndoTV

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TUESDAY AUGUST 15 2006 12:15 PM

A Brazillion years ago, a network debuted that was specifically created for guys like me. It was called The Spice Channel.

Er, I mean, it was called TechTV. Yeah. TechTV.

It was filled with programming about computers, technology, science, and other geeky things that, unfortunately, only appealed to guys like me, and over the years the really cool geek programming was slowly eroded and replaced with shows like Thunderbirds and Robot Wars. Yeah. Awesome.

While shows like The Screen Savers and Call for Help gave us our USRDA of geek, we all knew the network's days were numbered after the tech bubble burst. Death came knocking in 2004 when Comcast bought TechTV and merged it with G4 to become G4TechTV. Executives at the network did an outstanding job of completely ruining the once-glorious channel, eventually dropping TechTV (and any pretense of keeping its signature programming) from the name entirely.

Yesterday, Chris Pirillo (original TechTV personality and host of Call for Help) announced on his blog that he and Leo Laporte (original TechTV personality and host of Screen Savers) are working together to re-launch a new iteration of TechTV online, getting the band back together, and embracing the audience -- and user-created content -- in a way that was never possible when the network was on television.

TechTV was a television network that held within it so much promise, so much talent. We had an army of fanatics stationed all around the globe. The Internet-savvy did everything in their power to empower that very community - but many of those efforts fell victim to a traditional media mindset. Were now on the cusp of a new media revolution, and Ive begun to spearhead efforts to ressurect the ideals of TechTV.

Diggnation, Zefrank, and Rocketboom all prove that great content can be created and delivered without network involvement (or interference, depending on your point of view) but can UndoTV really rise from the ashes of TechTV and take its place alongside them?

Leo and I have discussed a few core values this impending structure must support, the most revolutionary of which is content producers owning 100% of their contributions. We want to enable former TechTV talent to upload new and existing content, and we want to bring new talent into the fold as well. Sales will also be an important part of this process, so wed also like to help match sponsorship with these personalities.

It's revolutionary, to say the least. UndoTV isn't really even in its infancy, yet -- it's more accurate to say that the moment of conception has just passed -- but I've known Chris for years, and when he starts to work on a plan, one way or another he makes it happen. To borrow a phrase from Dave Bowman, Something is happening here . . . something wonderful.

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Comments

theslant

USA

January 2003

AUG 15, 2006 12:30 PM

I cried the day the Screensavers in all of its hokey glory was killed and shoddily replaced with Attack of the Show. It marked the end of a network that held my loyalty in a way I hadn't had since my Alternative Nation/Headbanger's Ball/Liquid Television MTV days.

News of this makes me happy. But the cynicist in me is thinking, "either UndoTV will be a phoenix rising from its ashes, or it'll be a zombie come to eat my precious brains."

AceT

Portland, OR

April 2004

AUG 15, 2006 12:33 PM

I'm really hopeful this is going to lead somewhere. Though Kevin Rose seems to be farther along with all the content he has going in Revision3, I think the addition of Leo and Chris doing video content will be great. Add to that Patrick Norton's DigitalLife and it's almost TechTV again.

Can't keep a good geek down.

Weston

La Mesa, CA

June 2005

AUG 15, 2006 12:38 PM

Yea, read about this on one of Leo's sites a couple of weeks ago. I'm really looking forward to it

I thought TechTV was doing well even after the burst...But then Comcast came along and wanted access to all the TechTV fans for G4 And whadda know, G4 was named the least watched channel in America afterwards Although G4TechTV Canada stayed a lot more true to the Gaming/Tech theme than our craptastic channel here in the States

Leo described the idea as "sort of a dedicated YouTube"

Can't wait!

EDIT: Here's a link to the Leo post - http://leoville.vox.com/library/post/technology-without-an-interesting-name.html

Posh

SUICIDEGIRL

California, USA

AUG 15, 2006 01:26 PM

I can't place my finger on just why it bothers me, but calling this the new TechTV just doesn't seem right. At least not at this point. And it is all I am seeing wherever this topic is being discussed. It's a great idea, but considering the original content Revision3 currently has and their method of delivery (read: not youtube), they are far more deserving of such a title. But I don't mean to put this down. I think it's great! I am well supportive of the things Leo does. I wish more quality tech programming existed to squash out the horror of what G4 did, and I hope this pans out as something worth paying attention to.

phasers2rock

Owasso, OK

July 2005

AUG 15, 2006 02:14 PM

I enjoy G4tv, but oh I miss TechTV. I"ll have to keep an eye on this'n.