In a marketing stunt that defies any sort of logic, the ever strong and faithful SciFi network is suddenly going to have to try to get viewers back now that Battlestar Galactica is drawing to its final fracking episode. Their idea? Rebrand the network “SyFy” to throw off the geek stigma. A rose by any other name…
“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.”
Mr. Howe said going to Syfy will make a difference.
“It gives us a unique word and it gives us the opportunities to imbue it with the values and the perception that we want it to have,” he said.
So what we have here is a marketing ploy to make sure the public is fully unaware that they are a network that caters to Science Fiction. Because that is bad.
They want to distance themselves from Science Fiction? Uh, what do they intend to do to hide the repeat viewings of Star Trek and Stargate franchise shows, and other geek staples that dominate their lineup. The occasional Vampire and Supernatural show do little to offset the Science Fiction Fare that has made the network popular.
I doubt the heavy weight they give the generalization they are tagging on their network name is going to change because they misspell the name and use a stylistically neutral logo.
For a network that has become famous for its Science Fiction content, and isn’t changing that content any, I doubt a change of name will do much to draw viewers. People watch specific stations for the shows they air, not the other way around. If they showed a movie I want to see on the Women’s network, I don’t suddenly change my mind.
This is a really cool blog. The Founder of PREHISTORIC CHANNEL just wrote his first thriller book. “THE ICE GORILLA” is now in bookstores and being looked at by movie executives in order to try and make it into a movie. Book sales will heavily determine if THE ICE GORILLA will eventually be made into a movie. Help spread the word about this cool book and lets see if we can get THE ICE GORILLA into movie theaters.
When the sci-fi channel started it was classic stuff like the Twilight Zone and old Dark Shadows. Some of it didn’t exactly fit the science fiction mold then either but it still had geek cred and was quality programming you couldn’t get anywhere else. Lately, I’ll admit, Battlestar Galactica was awesome, but wrestling? Idiots chasing ghosts as if they were …real? *shakes head.* Ok siffy. This FEMALE geek who does not live in her parents basement will now be changing the channel.
The people who watched the sci-fi channel are loyal fans of the genre. You’re not kidding anyone with this SyFy “nom de plume”. Everybody knows who you are and that should be a good thing. I realise that it’s just business, but what you need is good programming to make the network successful. I can’t deal with wrestling, psychics, haunted houses nonsense, or “B” rated movies whether they’re sci-fi or not. Please get some better quality SCI-FI stuff on the air. What happened to Stargate Universe?
I read it as “siffy,” as in “I dated a woman with a checkered past, and now I have ‘siffy’.”
Sorry it took me so long in commenting.
But there’s really not much to say except….
More WCW?
I know. It’s late. I need some Z’s.
(but as long as they bring in the BBC imports Doctor Who and Who spinoffs, I’ll make it)
as long as doctor who is still airing then im fine
What is so bad about a station being associated with geeks? Are we not deserving of our own channel? SYFY is rediculous. Sci-fi stands for science fiction, to change it to SYFY is rediculous.
The only shows I watch on Sci fi are Twilight Zone reruns and Ghost Hunters.
Game over for the SyFy channel I fear…
wow its so cute.
i will definitely watch it now.
:\
So, the president of the company insults his current fan base by calling them, “geeks and dysfunctional, antisocial boys in their basements with video games and stuff like that”, yet expects them to stay around as they try to re-tool the station into another Logo or We channel?
Maybe he should realize that those so-called geeks are generally literate people who read comments from executives about Sci-fi channels, and might be offended by his comments, and stop watching his craptastic little channel.
I hope he enjoys his even lower ratings…
scifi’s “if” campaign is/was on the best i’ve seen for a network.
This is a joke, right?
Stupidest.
Idea.
Ever.
…what they need to do is develop the “Lost Room” into a series. That was the best original programming the network has ever done.
absolutely.
Now we’re talking! “Lost Room” would make an awesome series. For that matter I’d be happy to see a rerun of it.
Are they going to anounce Flash Gordan Season 2 and the “Return of the Mansquito” as well?
Agree, changing name makes no sense. Developing better programs is the only thing that will help. The channel has become a joke when it comes to SiFi Original Movies.
become a joke”? where have you been all theses years? sci-fi original movies have always been crap. the only thing they have worth watching are the series, and even some of them leave a lot to be desired
Sometimes I think the Sci-Fi channel hasn’t a clue of what they are doing or trying to sell as far as networks go.
Sci-Fi channel wants to distance itself from sci-fi?
My viewing of their station will end after BSG does.
You, and everyone else I know. Even though they’re doing another Stargate series, the premise is a mash-up of two Atlantis episodes and a joke from SG1’s 200th episode.
Forrest Ackerman is rolling in his grave right now ! Maybe he will rise up like a zombie and kill the CEO of the channel !
Uncle Forrey hasn’t even been gone for six months and they are already starting to destroy what he created.
Maybe if Sci-Fi …. I mean “SyFy” wouldn’t have gotten rid of shows like Farscape years ago they wouldn’t be in this position.
This reminds me of that scene from Idiocracy where they kept changing the name of Fuddruckers. In the end, it changed to ButtFuckers.
This is just pathetic. The network should be ashamed.
Yeah the Scifi original movies suck so bad
Not all of them. To this day, Taken is the best TV mini-series I have ever seen.
I agree with Slushie Man. Taken was an incredible mini-series.
I like the current SciFi logo, and I don’t see a point in changing it if they keep the programming the same.
Their scheduling sucks for their shows dooming the ratings for shows such as BSG and Eureka and they usually show crap Sci Fi movies and now they want to change their logo to SyFy??? I don’t even get it!!!
I have a friend who worked as a designer over there and he said they were always cheap and just plain disorganized…well it shows.
It’s a great concept..SciFi…how can they mess it up???
Way to alienate and insult their only viewers…
The sci fi logo is almost the only thing that I like about the channel. They should work on improving the quality of their shows. What do you call science fiction with no science?(no logic either). Half the shows are crap and really stupid.
SyFy…The channel for women who are dating geeks. LOL!
“Syfy” that’s dumb, what they have now is fine. Now whenever I’m watchmen Ghost Hunters International I’ll be looking at the dumbest logo ever
Shouldn’t they be working on better programming? I’ve seen the rest of the programming on that station, it’s crap.
Eureka is a very solid and awesomely funny show. But ya, apart from BSG and Eureka it is pretty weak.
I second what Jeremy K said
eureka is one of my favorite shows, i dont get why they dont take sci fi shows that other networks rejects, imagine the sci fi channel having jericho, journeyman, day break, firefly, the 4400 and the like…i would be happy as hell.
This has to be the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. It almost makes me want to write off the station completely.
Embarrassing,ridiculous,and confusing.
Is it April 1st today?
Sounds like an asian cooking channel now. Ill have the special fried rice with chicken syfy and some Klingon Guk-gu for my son down in the basement….