DirecTV has dropped G4, the home of popular tech-oriented shows X-Play and Attack of The Show, from its programming options. DirecTV released a statement saying G4 is one of its lowest-rated channels, thus DirecTV didn’t feel it was worth continuing. The Comcast-owned network released a statement of its own, blasting DirecTV for denying fans the only channel that focuses on “the popular gaming lifestyle.”

On Monday (November 1, 2010), satellite and cable TV provide DirecTV officially stopped carrying the G4 station.

Comcast, G4′s owner, had been in negotiations with DirecTV to keep the station in the provider’s lineup. The negotiations ended on Halloween (October 31, 2010)…

Prior to Labor Day 2010, the Game Show Network (GSN) is giving DirecTV subscribers a free preview weekend of the Game Lounge service.

Game Lounge is offered on DirecTV’s channel 110 and, according to the web site, includes more than 70 games. The freebie weekend is September 3-4, 2010 (ie Labor Day weekend)…

Game Lounge is offered on DirecTV’s channel 110 and, according to the web site, includes more than 70 games. Instead of a game controller you use the directional buttons on the DirecTV remote to play casual style games including various match-3 puzzles, word puzzles, card games, kids games (usually based on a TV cartoon shows including Ben 10 and Chowder) and popular board games including UNO and Monopoly. There are even games offered en espanol.

BlizzCon 2008 is offering a free pay-per-view package to new DirecTV subscribers for its upcoming World of Warcraft tournament starting at 1:30 p.m. on October 10, 2008, and 2 p.m. EST on October 11, 2008, broadcasting live from the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, CA (USA).

The DirecTV special promotion can be subscribed to only through the BlizzCon website and is available only to those living in the United States that subscribe to service before September 30, 2008, and activate it before October 9, 2008.

Current DirectTV subscribers can…

Title: Game Boys (aka Game Boys: Professional Videogaming’s Rise from the Basement to the Big Time)Author: Michael KanePrice: $24.95 (hardcover)Release Date: June 23, 2008Publisher: Viking (part of Penguin Putnam, Inc.)Pros: Conveys the excitement, personality and seriousness of competitive gaming in a readable tone. A good book for gamers and pro gaming skeptics.Cons: Starts a bit slow and has some overly simplified explanations of gaming and gaming terms.Overall Score: Two thumbs up; 90/100; A-; * * * * out of five.

Kane’s Game Boys is so much better than the pop-catchy name implies. It is instead a well-formed, personal and serious look into select groups of pro gamers.

Click through for the full review…

To help celebrate the Fourth of July 2008, DirecTV is offering a free preview weekend of its Game Lounge interactive channel for the long weekend (July 2 through 6, 2008, CH 110).

The channel allows you to play casual style games through DirecTV service (so you have to be a subscriber) using your remote. There are currently more than 40 games available on the Game Lounge, including…

From now until November 30, 2007, DirecTV is offering 11 months of free subscription to World of Warcraft to new DirecTV subscribers who use the promotion code ’57417 NEW”.

DirecTV and Blizzard Entertainment have teamed up to promote the Championship Gaming Series which recently announced that World of Warcraft will be added to the list of competitive games in 2008. New DirecTV subscribers will receive a trial version of the WOW plus a free upgrade to the full version. Those who subscribe to DirecTV through the CGS website and are not interested in receiving WOW can choose to accept a $100 Gamestop gift card instead. Current DirecTV subscribers can contact their local customer service representative to receive the WOW offer.