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Sci Fi Network changes name to SyFy
Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 1:49 am
by Ekuryua
In a truly bewildering marketing move, the Sci Fi Chanel has announced they are rebranding themselves SyFy. Here is Sci Fi President David Howe's rationale for the new name:
While continuing to embrace our legacy and our core audience, we needed to cultivate a distinct point of view with a name that we could own that invites more people in and reflects our broader range of programming.
Although this corporate speak is intentionally vague, further information from the
TV Week sheds more light on the matter.
“The name Sci Fi has been associated with geeks and dysfunctional, antisocial boys in their basements with video games and stuff like that, as opposed to the general public and the female audience in particular,” said TV historian Tim Brooks, who helped launch Sci Fi Channel when he worked at USA Network.
Mr. Brooks said that when people who say they don’t like science fiction enjoy a film like “Star Wars,” they don’t think it’s science fiction; they think it’s a good movie.
“We spent a lot of time in the ’90s trying to distance the network from science fiction, which is largely why it’s called Sci Fi,” Mr. Brooks said. “It’s somewhat cooler and better than the name ‘Science Fiction.’ But even the name Sci Fi is limiting.”
So Sci Fi is a Science Fiction network... that hates Science Fiction? No wonder their programming is so crappy (ECW Wrestling? WTF?) Fan reaction to this name change has been
universally negative, but the higher-ups at Sci Fi aren't likely to listen, since they regard their fanbase as dysfunctional antisocial geeks.
Re: Sci Fi Network changes name to SyFy
Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2009 10:59 pm
by Midnight Star
That name change is so pointless and stupid.
Re: Sci Fi Network changes name to SyFy
Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2009 11:00 pm
by Ekuryua
I agree wholeheartedly. I can't believe the paid people to come up with that...
Re: Sci Fi Network changes name to SyFy
Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2009 11:19 pm
by Stilts
"Imagine Greater" makes the English major in me vomit a little.
On the other hand, the Sci-Fi channel been quickly plummeting into pointlessness, so it's not like I'm going to care much about a station I don't watch anymore having a stupid name. Seriously, when Battlestar Galactica took the short road to crazy-town this season (correction: super crazy-town), the only good show they had left was Gundam 00. And now the first season of 00 has ended, so they've got nothing.
Oh how far the mighty have fallen.
Re: Sci Fi Network changes name to SyFy
Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 1:58 am
by Azgalath
"Imagine greater"
Apparently, we don't imagine good enough... :banghead
Re: Sci Fi Network changes name to SyFy
Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2009 4:08 am
by Ekuryua
SyFy has begun a publicity campaign to promote its rebranding. Ergo, it now appears that they intend to go through with this name change, despite an overwhelmingly negative reaction from pretty much everyone.
There you have it, folks. I'm still hoping this is some kind of incredibly elaborate April Fools joke, but common sense tells me otherwise.
Re: Sci Fi Network changes name to SyFy
Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2009 11:17 pm
by risk
I don’t know what I really think about this ‘syfy’ rename. Since I don’t personally have access to the channel I do not have to rely on it to get my sci-fi fix. However, from looking at the daily guides I see what I expect to watch on that channel, i.e. startrek, stargate or battlestar galactica…so as long as the content doesn’t radically change to accommodate larger audiences, then I am happy.
Re: Sci Fi Network changes name to SyFy
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 12:00 am
by Ekuryua
Star Trek, Stargate and Battlestar Galactica only constitute a small part of SyFy's programming. Most of what they play are cheaply made B-grade "Sci Fi Original Motion Pictures" (such as Raptor Island and Mansquito), which are without exception truly awful. They also host non-science fiction programming, like ECW wrestling and the paranormal investigation series Ghost Hunters. I wish they would play more Star Trek...