- "Get ready for flamethrowers, circular saws, and pick-axes... 'Robot Wars' is coming to the US, exclusively on TechTV. The might of the robots is limited only by the imagination and finances of their creators. It's a tournament like no other, as robots have to balance brute strength, weight, and lightning-quick reactions, or they might find themselves flipped from the frenzy straight to the scrap yard."
- — Official announcement for TechTV's airings of Robot Wars[1]
TechTV (stylised as techtv; alternatively formatted as Tech TV) was a former US cable and satellite TV channel primarily focusing on technology-based programming.
Under the TechTV, G4techTV and G4 brand names, the network broadcast the original UK series of Robot Wars between 2003[2] and as late as December 2005. This enabled the show to maintain a presence on US television throughout this period, following Viacom's sudden cancellation of Robot Wars: Extreme Warriors in 2002.[3]
History[]
- "TechTV is the only cable television channel covering technology information, news, and entertainment from a consumer, industry, and market perspective 24 hours a day. Our shows help viewers improve their tech knowledge and participate more fully in the Digital Age."
- — TechTV channel statement[4]
TechTV launched on 11 May 1998 as ZDTV, specialising in programmes covering various topics on technology and computer sciences. Some of ZDTV's original launch shows included The Screen Savers, Fresh Gear and GameSpot TV, a video game-focused show which was renamed Extended Play, then Xplay, upon the channel's rebranding in 2000. Over time, these was joined by animations aired in the "Eye Drops" and "Anime Unleashed" programming blocks, along with other shows with a technology or science-fiction theme. The latter included older or imported series such as Tomorrow's World; Max Headroom; Thunderbirds; and Techno Games, the sister show to the original Robot Wars series.[5]
Under the ZDTV identity, the channel also performed a 'Live Webcast' of the inaugural BattleBots Long Beach event on 14-15 August 1999.[6]
On 28 May 2004, TechTV was merged with the Comcast-owned video game network G4, becoming G4techTV.[7] The channel's output was diversified with a broader focus on gaming and popular culture, including programmes such as Xplay and Attack of the Show! - a direct replacement for The Screen Savers. G4techTV continued to operate under this identity until the "techTV" branding was dropped on 15 February 2005.[8] This incarnation of the newly-renamed G4 operated until its complete closure on 30 November 2014.[9]
Robot Wars[]
Robot Wars officially premiered on TechTV on 28 April 2003, with episodes initially announced as being broadcast on a weekday evening slot at 10pm Eastern time.[1] In practice, the show would receive up to two or three airings per day in various morning, afternoon and early evening timeslots. A weekly Eastern time schedule between Wednesday 21 and Tuesday 27 May suggests that, after premiering in the 10pm slot, episodes would often be repeated twice the following day at 8am and 2pm respectively.[2]

TechTV broadcast of the Extreme 2 Challenge Belt (Dantomkia vs Terrorhurtz)
Surviving footage and website archives confirm that airings encompassed the Classic Series from the first series of Robot Wars Extreme, all the way through to The Seventh Wars. The latter premiered on G4techTV on Sunday 3 October 2004 at 10pm Eastern time and 7pm Pacific time; less than a year after its initial UK premiere on Five.[10][11] Similarly to PBS airings of the Second and Third Wars, the televised episodes were almost entirely unaltered from the original UK broadcasts. The only notable changes evident included the addition of animated break bumpers for BBC-commissioned series, along with an onscreen logo graphic in TechTV-branded clips.[12][13]
One TechTV promo from winter 2003/2004 is known to use footage of Zeus vs Black Hole from the European Championship, suggesting that the latter episode was included in their airings of Extreme 2. The same promo confirms that in addition to the 10pm Eastern timeslot, the show was aired at 9pm Central time during this period. Additional clips include three from Series 5, Heat E (Thermidor 2 vs Prizephita Mach 2, Wild Thing vs Trouble & Strife and The Alien vs Velocirippa), alongside one from Series 4, Heat G (Thermidor 2 vs Dreadnaut XP1), though TechTV would not air The Fourth Wars in any form.[14]
A December 2005 archive of the G4 website suggests that Robot Wars continued to be aired following the second rebrand, focusing primarily on reruns of The Seventh Wars. Some episodes received alternative names to those of the original and repeat UK broadcasts; for example, the All-Stars episode was referred to as the All-Stars Special, and The Third World Championship as simply the World Championship. The website for the TechTV and both G4 incarnations included scheduling information; feature pages on competitors, House Robots, presenters, Judges and individual episodes; along with downloadable 'highlights' videos.[15]
Under the US TV Parental Guidelines, the series aired by TechTV and its successors were rated "TV G". Unlike Nickelodeon Robot Wars - which required multiple set and scripting alterations to receive a child-oriented "TV Y7" rating - the UK-sourced episodes were aired with no censorship-related changes. This also contrasts sharply with prior UK Series airings by PBS and The New TNN, which all received a "TV PG" rating.[11][15]
Trivia[]

TechTV website banner, featuring Panic Attack, General Chompsalot 2, Mr. Psycho, Julia Reed and Craig Charles
- TechTV and G4techTV's programme descriptions for various Series 5 Heats mention matchups which never took place in the actual episodes. For example, the latter's description of Heat L states that The Executioner was billed to fight Fluffy at some point. However, neither of these robots would actually meet each other in this episode, with Pussycat - The Executioner's first-round opponent – ultimately facing Fluffy in the Heat Final.[11]
- The header graphic for TechTV's Robot Wars website page includes an official photo of General Chompsalot 2, despite neither incarnation of the Extreme Warriors competitor appearing in any UK Series battles.[16]
- During broadcasts of The Seventh Wars, the heat finals would go into commercial breaks during the battles.
Quotes[]
(During commercial breaks)
- "Coming up, challengers and champions face off on Robot Wars!"
- "Coming up, manoeuvres meet mechanics on Robot Wars!"
- "More head-to-head robot rumbles coming up on TechTV!"
- "Robot Wars, and all of its destructive glory, will be right back!"
- "Stay tuned for more battle hungry robots on TechTV!"
- "Stay tuned for more metal mayhem on Robot Wars!"
- "Stay tuned! We'll find out the Judges' decision when Robot Wars returns!" (Series 7 Grand Final only)
(After commercial breaks)
- "Those ravenous robots are back on TechTV!"
- "Chrome meets chaos as Robot Wars returns to TechTV!"
- "It's all-out carnage as robots collide on Robot Wars!"
- "Those metal munching maniacs are back on Robot Wars!"
- "The mechanical mother of all mayhem is back on TechTV!"
- "Robot Wars returns to crank up the carnage!"
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 http://web.archive.org/web/20030413141849/http://www.techtv.com/tvshows/story/0,23350,3418859,00.html
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 https://web.archive.org/web/20030521165024/http://cgi.techtv.com/tvschedule?glance=1&day=0&show_id=0&timeZone=0
- ↑ Newspaper cutting mentioning the cancellation of Extreme Warriors, and TechTV's pickup of the UK Series
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20020124070126/http://www.techtv.com/aboutus/story/0,23350,2146712,00,00.html
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20021001084931/http://cgi.techtv.com/tvschedule
- ↑ 'ZDTV Promo (BattleBots)', ZDTVMultimedia (YouTube), uploaded 25 June 2006 (loud audio warning: 0:29-0:32)
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20040519141108/http://www.g4techtv.com/faq.html
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20161221165630/http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/news-articles/g4-drops-techtv-handle/72179
- ↑ 'G4 Channel Will Cease Airing on November 30, 2014', United Information Systems press release, 5 November 2014
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20040929042757/http://www.g4techtv.com/robotwars/episodes/3518/Robot_Wars_The_Seventh_Wars.html
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 https://web.archive.org/web/20041012024146/http://www.g4techtv.com/robotwars/index.html
- ↑ TechTV broadcast of Extreme 1, Episode 13 (Wild Card Warriors, Axe-Awe vs Panic Attack)
- ↑ TechTV broadcast of The Second World Championship (Extreme 1 version), Heat 2
- ↑ 'Classic TechTV Commercials and Bumpers', spooeiVAULT (YouTube), uploaded July 16 2009
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 https://web.archive.org/web/20051207234843/http://www.g4tv.com/robotwars/index.html
- ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20030621095939/http://www.techtv.com/robotwars/
External Links[]
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