Sci-Fi Channel Changing Its Name to Syfy

Status
Not open for further replies.
G

GrnMarvl14

Lying
Joined
Jan 4, 2003
Messages
13,846
Reaction score
4
Source.

SciFi Channel will change its name to Syfy Channel on July 7th, when it launches the new series Warehouse 13, according to TV Week. The network believes that the new name more accurately reflects content on the channel, which is broader than traditional science fiction. Warehouse 13, about a secret government facility where mysterious relics are stored, exemplifies this broader content.

The new name may make it easier to attract audiences not traditionally attracted to science fiction, particularly female viewers.
Click to expand...

Longer article on the name change.
 
I don't know... Sounds kinda dumb. Of course, now they won't be able to do their "iF" -> "SciFi" commercial bumpers anymore.
 
I'm going to put this in the stupid move column. I've seen too many of these "attract a broader audience" plans end in almost fatal (and sometimes fatal) failure. This looks like one of those times.

This is also very bad timing. SciFi's biggest hit will be ending this week, and they choose now to flip off science fiction fans?
 
This sounds... geeky I think...trying to pull in some sifi nerds perhaps? I dont watch scifi much, or rarely do, but I like sifi shows a lot. I would not watch the station any less cause of its name change.
 
Well, it wasn't like I watch this network that often anyway and they have been showing programs that have try to expand the audience lately anyway like showing all those Stephen King mini-series and pro wrestling, but still when a network makes decisions like this it always makes the long-time loyal fans angry, but whatever.
 
Last edited:
heck I only watch sci-fi for the occasional Anime that Airs sometimes, so I did'nt know about the name change.
 
They started going to hell when they decided to try producing their own B-movies.

Google "Living Hell", "Kaw", or "Frankenfish" (no, I am not making those up), for an idea.
 
Zeta said:
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/NetworkDecay

All the more easier to put on generic pap, like more cop shows. Aiming for the broadest audience means becoming another ABC or FOX, except without the budget - and inevitably, death or irrelevance.
Click to expand...
So I guess I can expect to see more wrestling on Sci Fi Syfy? Lovely, just lovely. :banghead:

This just sounds like a bad move. A very bad move.
I was an avid viewer of this network, until they started making really moronic decisions-- IE ending Stargate SG-1, pulling the plug on Stargate Atlantis, deciding to air ECW on Tuesday night, etc. The more stupid crap they did, the less I wanted to watch. Which is really a pity, too. I loved the Sci Fi channel. Back in the day, Sci Fi and Cartoon Network were the only stations I would watch. I can remember that I was completely addicted to Sci Fi's Animation Station; I could watch Transformers eps before going to class. (Some mornings that was the only thing that got me out of bed.)
Nekusagi said:
They started going to hell when they decided to try producing their own B-movies.

Google "Living Hell", "Kaw", or "Frankenfish" (no, I am not making those up), for an idea.
Click to expand...
If they really want to air crappy movies, they could always hammer out a deal with The Asylum. That way I can watch "Transmorphers" or "The Day the Earth Stopped" without having to pay for them.
 
"The network believes that the new name more accurately reflects content on the channel."

Half-assed B-Movies featuring Coolio chasing after nonexistent Pterodactyls? Yup. Definitely suits the content.

... Someone just jumped the badly CGI'd shark.
 
Nekusagi said:
They started going to hell when they decided to try producing their own B-movies.

Google "Living Hell", "Kaw", or "Frankenfish" (no, I am not making those up), for an idea.
Click to expand...

How could you forget Mansquito and Ice Spiders?
 
Hey now, wrestling belongs on a fiction channel :)

and this is retarded.

Everyone should pronounce it "siffy" just to spite them.

I miss the old Sci-Fi, with Cool Stuff from the Cosmos and Harlan Ellison's (usually abusive) commentaries. And Babylon 5.
 
So I guess I can expect to see more wrestling on Sci Fi Syfy? Lovely, just lovely.
Click to expand...

You can expect to see everything BUT Science Fiction or Fantasy, basically.
 
GrnMarvl13 said:
How could you forget Mansquito and Ice Spiders?
Click to expand...

Good question.
Mansquito448x302.jpg
 
This news makes Martonimos sad. I love the Sci-Fi channel; on the rare occasions that I'm near a cable TV, it's the first thing I flip to. Was it really necessary to change things up and attract a wider audience? I can understand if a something's struggling in this economic environment, but still...
 
Zeta said:
You can expect to see everything BUT Science Fiction or Fantasy, basically.
Click to expand...

Eh, just means more random crap like all of the horror movies they've been showing. And things like Ghost Hunters. There's still supposedly a Bablyon 5 spin-off coming, Sanctuary's been renewed, and Stargate: Atlantis was canceled so they could make ANOTHER Stargate series using a Star Trek-like formula (because, as we all know, if something's not broke, you have to fix it with Scotch tape and super glue). And I HOPE they continue to air Doctor Who when they actually start make new episodes again.

Silverwynde said:
Mansquito sounds like it would suck.
Click to expand...

Were ANY of their original movies good? I only ever saw Sasquatch and...something else with people trapped on an island with giant, killer robots.
 
This makes perfect sense for two reasons:

1. They just had their biggest ratings year ever. Rebranding the network is just a last step in their change from scifi to...whatever the hell they think they are now. Imagination shows or something.

2. You can't trademark Sci-fi, but you CAN trademark Syfy. This only helps them with marketing and expanding their brand. (Syfy Games, Syfy Films and Syfy Kids.)

The name itself is stupid though. You pronounce it exactly the same. I don't care what their stupid focus group thinks, changing the spelling isn't really changing it at all.

I kind of wonder if this is just a temporary thing. Changing too much once you have the viewers is suicidal, so maybe they will get a real new name once they've established their new image better.
 
GrnMarvl13 said:
Eh, just means more random crap like all of the horror movies they've been showing. And things like Ghost Hunters. There's still supposedly a Bablyon 5 spin-off coming, Sanctuary's been renewed, and Stargate: Atlantis was canceled so they could make ANOTHER Stargate series using a Star Trek-like formula (because, as we all know, if something's not broke, you have to fix it with Scotch tape and super glue). And I HOPE they continue to air Doctor Who when they actually start make new episodes again.
Click to expand...
I'm still pissed about Atlantis. So pissed that I'm toying with the idea of watching Stargate Universe on a local station when it hits syndication. I don't want Sci Fi to get anymore positive ratings.

I should also just start watching Doctor Who on BBC America. Yeah, I am that bitter now.
Were ANY of their original movies good? I only ever saw Sasquatch and...something else with people trapped on an island with giant, killer robots.
Click to expand...
I saw A Sound Of Thunder and was not impressed, so I'm inclined to say no. But the killer robots movie sounds slightly interesting.... if only to cheer the fleshies on to their deaths. :evil:
 
This really just seems to be another victim of trying to move away from being a place for the old "geek" stereotype, so they try to make it as hip as possible for the new age of "geek", which of course is socially acceptable.

It happened to G4, too. Great network for what it did (Tommy Tolaraco (sp) may have been an ass, but he was a VIDEO GAME related ass, and Judgement Day was fun to watch), but now it's just Spike TV 2 (and ironically enough, it happened to Spike TV too... some people might not remember it used to be a country music station!). It never happened to TechTV because it never had the chance before G4 gobbled it up.

And now, Sci-Fi is Spike TV 3. Now with 200% more AXE ads.

Shit sucks.

(I guess I'm overly bitter because I loved the hell out of old Sci-Fi, G4 and TechTV)

Another B5 spinoff? Eh, the show ended when season 4 ended as far as I'm concerned. After the Shadow war and the Earth Civil War I didn't find the plots very compelling.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top Bottom