So any thought on the SciFi to Syfy change?

[Fubeca]

Haven't heard much on this but it is happening this week, what do you think?

Sci-Fi Morphs Into SyFy

 

[The Ringer]

I saw this also and don't know what the differnce is.

 

[Darklord Dave]

There's another thread about it from when they first announced it. From now on I'm going to think of it as the the "Siffy" network - which sounds like both "sissy" and "syphilis."

 

[Mesa]

Sounds like a stupid idea. Why change a well known brand name? Just to make work.

 

[Darth Waller]

I can see it now...in a couple years they won't be showing anything science fiction-related and they'll say "We're called Syfy, not SciFi. We can show what we want."

 

[Devil_666]

Well that sucks. Anyone remember when it first debuted and was just like a looping scene sort of like flying in outer space. 24/7 for a couple of weeks before actual programming came on? That ish was freaky.

 

[The Ween]

There is a special report article in TV Guide this week and I quote Dave Howe, channel president:

"This wasn't an option, it was a mandate. We made a commitment to grow into a global lifestyle brand. Sci Fi is a genre; it is like calling a TV network Drama or Sport. The default perception of sci-fi is that it's space, aliens, the future. It's Star Trek. The new name positions us as having our own attitude and personality, which gives us permission to do a broader range of sci-fi/fantasy shows and take us into the supernatural, the paranormal, action-adventure and mystery space."

Another paragraph which I agree with: Fan reaction has mostly ranged from suspicion to outrage. Furious bloggers are decrying the switch as a rejection of the channel's loyal fans. In their view, it signals an official move away from the science-fiction genre towards reality shows, cheapo monster movies and their biggest peeve--pro wrestling.

 

[Vader AL]

as a sci-fi fan i don't like the change but I enjoy the channel and if this helps them be more successful BUT doesn't change their main theme then go for it. i hope they don't change too much though; I watched Tech T.V. but G4 lost me(except during big events that only they cover) but I'm sure they gained viewers though with the change.

 

[Jen]

I think it's stupid. Syfy- the guy who thought up that should be fired.

I hope it doesn't turn into something like Tru TV which used to Court TV and now is a bunch of crappy reality stuff. You have to wait until 11pm for them to show stuff like Forensic Files...early evening is all stuff like Operation Repo and Speeders. yuck

 

[The Ween]

I think it's stupid. Syfy- the guy who thought up that should be fired.

I hope it doesn't turn into something like Tru TV which used to Court TV and now is a bunch of crappy reality stuff. You have to wait until 11pm for them to show stuff like Forensic Files...early evening is all stuff like Operation Repo and Speeders. yuck

Howe said they went to that name because they had a hard time getting the URI and trademark for a name so they settled on just misspelling SciFi.

 

[The Ween]

I don't mind reality shows like Forensic Files and shows like that, but I'm sick of these other ones that just follow people around filming their so-called day. It's mostly fake and set up.

 

[Jen]

I don't mind reality shows like Forensic Files and shows like that, but I'm sick of these other ones that just follow people around filming their so-called day. It's mostly fake and set up.

Forensic files is awesome....I don't really consider that reality...at least not compared to the type of reality shows we get bombarded with now. I mean...Speeders...wtf?!? That's just the dumbest show I have ever seen.

 

[Mikey2Bullets]

There's another thread about it from when they first announced it. From now on I'm going to think of it as the the "Siffy" network - which sounds like both "sissy" and "syphilis."

agreed, sounds like a network with a target audience of people with std's

damn corporate lawyers digging their paws into everything creative.

 

[Sick Boy 82]

Another paragraph which I agree with: Fan reaction has mostly ranged from suspicion to outrage. Furious bloggers are decrying the switch as a rejection of the channel's loyal fans. In their view, it signals an official move away from the science-fiction genre towards reality shows, cheapo monster movies and their biggest peeve--pro wrestling.

I agree too.

I hate the new name and think it's just a ploy for them to move into garbage!!!! ^^^^ that!! I even hate that they have Ghost Hunters or whatever bull^^^^ that is. HATE!!!!!!!!

The reason why it's called SciFi is because of Sci-Fi. Sci-Fi has many sub-genres and that can be explored, but I hate ^^^^ting programing. No need to show stupid, fake ass wrestling and garbage programming like that.

Eureka, SG, Star Trek etc, etc is what I want to see. I don't mind the ^^^^ty Saturday night movies, because I think they are funny to watch.

But this change is just an excuse to ruin the station and bring in crap. To bad, I really like the channel.

But as long as they at least continue to show decent Sci-Fi television shows, I will stay loyal. But as soon as they stop, I'm blocking it on my cable box.

 

[jrice73]

It's totally stupid! Dumb and pathetic come to mind as well. After the BSG finale, I became very suspicious of where this channel was going. It seems they have upped the ante on pushing wrestling and more X-Files and Stargate clones. Plus, they push crap like Scare Tactics (which is just stupid and not scary). When they get a great show in syndication, like LOST, they absurdly show it in blocks one week and then break it up in one hour timeslots through out the next week or after where you don't even know when it is on. Scifi was pretty damn awesome back when it started and into the late nineties. They showed a lot of eclectic stuff, anime and cult tv series. And I always looked forward to their miniseries like Dune, Invasion: Earth, Ultraviolet (the last two are terrific BBC series) etc... But it seems by the time that BSG took off, they just got lame. Wrestling came on and they just started to push more and more of those Scifi Channel films from Asylum, UFO Films and the like. BSG proved they could draw major, major attention from fans and non fans alike around the world. Now, it seems the Scifi channel just wants to curl up and die...

 

[The Ween]

https://video.scifi.com/player/?id=1131680

sicksick

 

[Sick Boy 82]

Haha, actually, I like the video. It seems so SciFi to me.

I just utterly loathe the last 3 seconds!! Seeing SyFy makes me want to punch a baby. Or kick a puppy. Or something nasty & cruel.

P.S. I would never do anything like that. I'd probably kill someone who punched a baby or kicked a puppy. I love them both!!

 

[Bucky Underbelly]

Yeah, it's all corporate double-speak and nonsense. Forget all the crap about "lifestyles." The primary reason for the name change is so they can control their trademark. They can't trademark "Sci-Fi" since it's a pre-existing word. So they mess with the spelling so they can own it and prevent others from using it. Just like "Cheez Whiz" or "Velveeta." (And yes, the selection of "cheesy" examples was deliberate!)

Yup, sadly I fear it's headed the way of TruTV. By this time next year, it'll be all cheapie "reality" shows following people around with night-vision cameras as they chase "ghosts" that are nothing more than motes of dust. Galactica, you are SORELY MISSED!

And Jen and The Ween are totally right, Forensic Files is awesome! Though I wouldn't call that reality TV. I'd say that's more of a documentary show. To me, Reality TV is more like the kind of thing where they just follow somebody around with a camera and try to stitch together a show out of the footage. FF is scripted and is structured around the particular story of the case. Hair-splitting, I know!

I LOVE a good documentary show. Like the kind of thing you find on The Science Channel or The History Channel. (Yeah, I know ... nerd!) But you wouldn't catch me watching Reality TV on a bet!

 

[Darth Caedus]

A channel can't Trademark Sci-Fi, it's too well known, but they can Trademark SyFy......

 

[Trustey]

Yes also you guys should know that Starbucks has bought the rights to the name Planet Earth, and they will no longer allow its use in textbooks, maps, toys, movies etc. From now on <span style="text-decoration:line-through">Earth</span>^TM will be known as Planet Starbucks^TM