Channel Closure: Paramount Will Be Closing Game One And J-One In November

Marcus, Kayane, Julien Tellouck... these are just a few of the names that became famous through the Game One channel, an unwavering bastion of video games on French airwaves despite the general disinterest from French television in our favorite hobby. But the adventure is about to end. Not due to a lack of resources, but because of a restructuring by the parent company that is sweeping everything in its path, like "blind pruning."

Game One started on September 7, 1998, by the initiative of Infogrames and Canal+. Initially reserved for Canal Satellite subscribers, the channel gradually grew and joined cable, satellite, and ADSL TV packages in the 2000s. It featured iconic shows, especially *Level One*, where the host Marcus – former editor of the *Tilt* magazine – would present the first level of a video game. It wasn’t MTV, although the famous American TV channel became a shareholder in early 2003, helping Game One recover after a very complicated period marked by open conflicts with Marcus and accusations of unethical editorial practices, aligned with major game publishers. Anyway, life went on, anime began to appear in the programming schedule to diversify the offerings, leading to the creation of J-One in 2013, dedicated to simulcasting the latest Japanese series.

**Game One, it’s Game Done**

All these crucial stages in the life of Game One will soon belong to the archives of the INA (National Audiovisual Institute) and our memories, as BFM Tech&Co exclusively learned that the specialized channel will soon be going off the air. Indeed, Game One is currently owned by Paramount, which is in the process of merging with Skydance to create a new mega-entertainment giant. "According to information from BFM Tech&Co, the group Paramount Networks France [...] has decided to stop broadcasting at the end of November 2025 as part of a large-scale restructuring plan affecting more than 50% of the staff in the television division," specify Melinda Davan-Soulas and Sylvain Trinel, who were able to speak with about a dozen employees, both freelance and permanent.

Game One will officially cease broadcasting at the end of November 2025. J-One will also join the graveyard. Best of luck to all the employees affected by this unfair closure. We leave you with the most iconic *Level One* episode of all: Gérard and Johann playing *Paris-Marseille Racing 2* on PS2.

Source: Gamekult