MORE ON THE FATE OF G4TV AND THE STYLE CHANNEL REBRANDING AS ESQUIRE NETWORK

From TheWrap.com

General manager Adam Stotsky discusses what viewers can expect from the programming shift

In what seemed to the outside world as an eleventh hour decision, NBCUniversal announced two weeks ago that Esquire Network would replace Style instead of previously announced G4.

On Monday, the transition occurs in 75 million American homes and the new male-centric network’s boss says that Style’s predominately female audience may not be totally put off by the new programming.

“Certainly, we’re focused on establishing a decidedly masculine experience but it’s absolutely going to be a brand that’s very accessible and very welcoming to women along the way,” Esquire Network’s general manager, Adam Stotsky, told TheWrap.

Stotsky, who took over G4 last year and formerly served as NBC Entertainment’s president of marketing, pointed out that Esquire Network, like the magazine, should see some overlap in interests between men and women.

“We can turn to the readership of the magazine, which is on average 30 percent female,” he said.

So what is going to happen to G4TV you ask?

Of course, the announcement that the male-centric network will no longer replace G4 has attracted some interest as to NBCUniversal’s intentions for the video gamers network. For now, the party line is that it will remain status quo.

“G4 is going to continue unchanged for the foreseeable future. So as of right now, it’s going to continue as is,” Stotsky said. “We’re focused on Monday’s debut of Esquire Network.”