Nope. The channel is rebranding itself as: Syfy Channel.
The New York Times reports that the network will roll out its new name in its advertiser upfronts tomorrow, and officially make the switch on July 7.
Gone too is the Saturn logo. New is the tagline “Imagine Greater.”
The network’s genre-leading Web site, SciFi.com, will also make the switch.
The main reason for the change, according to Bonnie Hammer, former head of the network and now president of NBC Universal Cable Entertainment and Universal Cable Productions, and her successor David Howe, is that the name “SCI FI” was too limiting.
“If you ask people their default perceptions of Sci Fi, they list space, aliens and the future,” Howe said. “That didn’t capture the full landscape of fantasy entertainment: the paranormal, the supernatural, action and adventure, superheroes” — areas of programming that have becoming increasingly important as the network has found ratings success with shows like Ghost Hunters, ECW: Extreme Championship Wrestling, and Destination Truth.
But network chiefs hope that keeping the phonetically altered “Syfy” will also help them keep the fanboys and girls who are looking for traditional science fiction.
SCI FI had 95.2 million subscriber households and an estimated ad revenue of $423.9 million in 2008, according to media research company SNL Kagan, the Times said.
Science fiction news site SyFy Portal recently rebranded itself as Airlock Alpha, possibly a precursor to the network’s acquisition of the “Syfy” name. The change does allow the network to own the copyright on its own name — which it couldn’t do with a word as generic and widely used as “sci-fi.”
“We couldn’t own Sci Fi; it’s a genre,” Hammer said. “But we can own Syfy.”
“If I were texting, this is how I would spell it,” Howe said.
(Thanks to Mike and Morjana for the tip!)
NEXT: Read the network’s press release on Page 2
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I guess this is a good thing since, as the article mentions, SciFi has been moving further and further away from actual science fiction and related genres and into "sports entertainment" and BS reality shows.
I agree. Personally, the only reason I've watched that channel at all is because of Stargate. I can't stand it otherwise. They're all idiots anyway, as evidenced by their cancellation of Atlantis when it could have gone on for years just fine.
As if changing their name is going to get more people to watch it. They haven't been sci fi for a while now. They have become just another station. Nothing special. I find myself watching better made shows on other stations. Still missing Stargate..thank goodness for dvds.
I agree, jeffala. What this represents to me quite clearly is that Sci Fi (SyFy) is distancing itself from the science fiction and fantasy genres with which it made its name and are its heritage. I am deeply disappointed.
This move is no doubt to align with the transition of their content away from high-quality, thought-provoking futuristic drama and toward mindless fare like "pro" wrestling and the paranormal "reality" shows. I suppose I should be glad that the word part "sci" and the Saturn symbol will no longer have to be embarrassed by being superimposed on the same.
Mindless and paranormal has its place, but it is not science and it is not good dramatic fiction that engages your mind and imagination.
Sci-Fi to SyFy? What's that line... 'A rose by any other name etc.'. The change is a much of a muchness. Sci-Fi or SyFy... really no change at all.
Their tagline is, of course, idiotic. "Imagine Greater". Imagine greater what, exactly?
BYE
Haha, that is really stupid.
Pfft. Hahha. I was expecting something more...well, creative? I mean, this Howe person said "If I were texting, this is how I would spell it"
From that you can tell that they're trying to aim the network at younger people.
I am one of those younger people...but...I still find a name like "SyFy" really stupid.
They're a bunch of idiots - cancelling a bunch of good shows. Changing the name doesn't solve anything.
I suppose the name "Sci Fi" could be considered "limiting," in that it might actually cause the average viewer to expect you to broadcast, oh, I don't know... science fiction? o.O
heh.. ooookay, interesting. Maybe that will help them justify airing wrestling shows. Where does that fit in the “ full landscape of fantasy entertainment: the paranormal, the supernatural, action and adventure, superheroes”. Hmm.. do they consider wrestlers to be superheros? *ugh* Oh well, I only watched Scifi for Stargate and while I'll be giving SGU a chance, I dont expect the honeymoon to last. ;) So, I guess it doesn't really matter to me. ;)
So if "SyFy" eventually moves completely away from it's roots, is there any other network that primarily plays science fiction?