The CGS makes a move to Cable TV, on its way to G4

Just a quick press release from the CGS and G4 before I get to a late late sleep. 
Instead of airing merely on Direct TV and the internets, the CGS will be making the move to prime time cable TV.

I complained way back in December in one of my first posts here that the CGS's viewer ship was highly limited by only being on Direct TV.  It seems they have taken the first step in remedying that via featured time slots on G4.  While I rarely watch G4 anymore, as they destroyed one of my favorite networks in Tech TV, I would bet quite a few people still do (no Morgan Webb, no watch). 

Will this help the cause of bringing competitive gaming to a mainstream audience?

Here is the press release:


Combined CGS distribution will now reach more than 425 million viewers worldwide


LOS ANGELES – June 16, 2008 – Championship Gaming Series™ (CGS), the only worldwide professional video gaming league, today announced an exclusive deal with G4 Media that brings broadcast programming of the league’s competitions to United States cable television for the first time.

G4, the only destination on television for video games, web culture, and the latest must-have tech gadgets, will air four 90-minute episodes beginning July 16, including the CGS 2008 North America Finals and the CGS 2008 World Finals.

“During our first season, Championship Gaming Series established itself as the creator of the world’s most compelling and engaging television programming dedicated to professional video gaming,” said Andy Reif, Chief Executive Officer for CGS. “Although we were a brand-new sports league in 2007, we created a incredibly powerful global television platform with partners including DIRECTV, DIRECTV Latin America, BSKYB, STAR and ESPN-STAR Sports, through which nearly 50 million cumulative viewers tuned in to watch our programming worldwide during our inaugural season. For our second season, we continue to grow our audience and worldwide reach and this new deal with G4 will help fans connect to CGS via US cable television, for the first time.”

“G4’s young male viewers are passionate about video games,” said Neal Tiles, President, G4. “By bringing Championship Gaming Series to the network, we are giving our audience the rare opportunity to watch some of the world’s best gamers in action. The competition is certain to appeal to our viewers.”
CGS programming will debut July 16 on G4 with the league’s 2008 North America playoffs. The network will air four 90-minute episodes in total: the 2008 North America Final on Wed., July 16 at 9 p.m. ET/PT; 2008 World Final Quarterfinals matches on Sat., July 19 at 10 p.m. ET/PT; 2008 World Final Semifinals matches on Sat., July 26 at 10 p.m. ET/PT; and the 2008 World Final Championship Match on Saturday, August 2 at 10 p.m. ET/PT.