G4-which has been providing comprehensive coverage of the video games industry and of the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) convention since the network's inception-will dramatically increase its live coverage of E3 2006, and will offer its affiliate partners exclusive VIP tours of the world's premiere video game event. The network will be broadcasting live from the convention floor three hours a day during E3, which runs May 9-12 this year at the Los Angeles Convention Center. On Thursday and Friday, May 11 and 12, G4 will offer in-depth VIP tours for its affiliates of all the action at E3, providing expert commentary and analysis of the key industry players and the games being unveiled, and giving affiliates priority access to the major booths and convention highlights.

G4 President Neal Tiles commented, "Both Sony and Nintendo are expected to offer online-enabled consoles this holiday season. This is great news for the television industry because next year we should see further growth in broadband adaptation as the TV takes a step closer to home computers in its need for a broadband connection. Think about what a PC is without an Internet connection: it's functional, but you're missing out on so much. This next generation of 100% online-enabled game consoles adds a tremendous amount of depth to the gaming experience, and provides affiliates another opportunity to promote their broadband services."

G4 Offers Affiliates an Up-Close, Personalized Look at E3

On Thursday, May 11 and Friday, May 12, G4 will conduct VIP tours of the E3 convention, exclusively for G4's affiliate partners. Adelphia, Charter, Comcast, Cox, EchoStar and DirecTV are among the affiliates who have already signed up to take advantage of G4's revealing, insider's look at E3.

The VIP tours offer a "backstage pass" to E3, providing a true insider's perspective on all the action. G4's VIP tours will visit the key industry booths, providing the history of and context for each of the new games being unveiled at the convention. VIPs will also enjoy priority access to all of the interactive offerings at each booth, getting exclusive hands on previews of some of the most hotly anticipated games of the year.

Each G4 tour will be led by knowledgeable and entertaining gaming experts who bring clarity and insight to what can sometimes be an overwhelming experience. The VIP tours will help cut through the hype to get to the heart of the E3 experience.

G4 Dramatically Expands Its E3 Coverage in 2006

With series such as X-PLAY, ATTACK OF THE SHOW and ELECTRIC PLAYGROUND, G4 is the definitive television source for news and info about the video game industry. For E3 2006, G4 will deploy a crew of more than 100-including five on-air personalities-to the convention floor to broadcast live three hours a day during each day of the convention.

G4's live E3 coverage will include interviews conducted at the G4 booth with major executives in the video game industry; same-day press conference coverage as Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo and other industry heavyweights unveil the most anticipated games of the year; live demos and previews of the hottest games; and celebrity interviews.

The network's programming schedule begins on Monday, May 8, and lasts all week:

. Monday, May 8: Attack of the Show E3 Preview

This special edition of Attack of the Show-G4's inside track to the newest tech, the hottest games, and the fastest-breaking news-is a one-hour behind-the-scenes look at what to expect from E3, including exclusive first looks at some of the latest games.

. Tuesday, May 9: E3 06 Live Attack of the Show Special

Hosts Kevin Pereira and Olivia Munn of Attack of the Show and Adam Sessler and Morgan Webb of G4's X-Play-all knowledgeable industry experts and passionate gamers themselves-take to the floor of the Los Angeles Convention Center for three hours of live programming. Pereira, Munn, Sessler and Webb introduce world premiere videos of some of the most anticipated titles of the year, as well as coverage of major press conferences from Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo as they reveal the games and hardware they've been keeping under wraps all year.

. Wednesday through Friday, May 10-12: E3 06 Live Attack of the Show
Specials

Pereira, Munn, Sessler and Webb return to the convention floor for three hours a day of live programming, providing up-to-the minute coverage of all the E3 madness: the booth babes, the fan boys, the free swag, the crazy costumes, and-oh yes-the games.

In three hours of live daily coverage, Pereira, Munn, Sessler and Webb will analyze all the information coming from the show floor, with candid opinions of everything they see and play.

Special Broadband Coverage and VOD Packages Bring G4's E3 Coverage Home

The Pile, g4tv.com's new broadband channel, which offers extensive Web-only content from G4's hottest shows, will feature G4's ever-changing E3 content and up-to-the-minute coverage of the latest titles. In addition, the Pile delivers custom playlists of content, and gives users choice and the ability to save and share their playlists with friends. G4tv.com's community is by far the largest and most active of any TV-based site: Of the 1 million registered users, 300,000 are active in g4tv.com's chatrooms and message boards each month.

For the three weeks during and after the E3 convention, special video-on-demand packages will be made available to viewers through the network's cable affiliates:

. Week of May 8: From Wednesday through Friday, May 10-12, G4 will offer 25 minutes a day of programming from E3, including the latest news, the biggest headlines, and all the highlights of the convention, including the keynotes from Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo as they unveil their highly anticipated game products. This VOD package will be available within 24 hours of the original live broadcasts on G4's air.

. Week of May 15: 75 minutes a week of E3 highlights, including the top games, the booths, the babes and the scene on the convention floor.

. Week of May 22: 75 minutes a week of "Best of Show" coverage, including industry reactions to the E3 news and product unveilings.