Chicago fans of Stargate, Battlestar Galactica, Firefly, and a host of other SCI FI fare just got a rude awakening: The SCI FI Channel has gone dark. Instead of quality genre dramas like SG-1 and Atlantis — not to mention reruns of old-school favorites and quality B movies about overcrown bugs — those who tune in to SCI FI on Comcast basic have nothing.
Comcast has moved The SCI FI Channel to its digital service, which will run devoted fans another $9.99 per month, up from Comcast’s basic price tag of $46.99. Oh, and don’t forget the required converter box at another $4.85 per month. And taxes and fees.
With 1.7 million subscribers, two-thirds of whom pay for basic cable, Comcast has instantly shrunk SCI FI’s audience by more than a million potential viewers — and in a major metropolitan market at that. It seems almost impossible that viewership for the network’s vital SCI FI Friday shows will go unscathed. (And it is apparently only SCI FI that has been moved.)
Comcast’s view of the situation? “I think a lot of people won’t even pay attention to the change,” Comcast’s Pat Keenan told the Chicago Tribune.
Ka-ching.
Here at GateWorld, our senior editor has recently ditched Comcast cable. There is an excellent solution for Comcast subscribers who find themselves with no SCI FI, and thus no Stargate.
It’s a wonderful service we call “DirecTV.” You’ll get more channels (including SCI FI), a better signal, a vastly superior on-screen program guide, all your local channels — all for less than the cost of Comcast cable. That’s right — get better TV, better service, for less money.
No, we aren’t satellite resellers. We’ll make no money from this little endorsement. What we hope to do is get as many customers as possible to flee the Comcast beast and let them know that their decision to remove The SCI FI Channel from their basic line-up was a bad one … and to watch more Stargate!
If you’d rather stick with Comcast, though, be sure to let them know how unhappy you are about their decision. Their phone number is 800-COMCAST. And if you are leaving Comcast, be sure to let them know why. (We’re also told that digital subscribers will also have to look for SCI FI on a different channel now.)
Now, more news bytes from the Stargate universe:
(Thanks to Morjana, Harald Cylobzik, Thor, Gilles Nuytens, Jamieson, Phil, and Anna for contributing)