For one reason or another, people have been wanting to rename the Sci Fi network for a long time. About three years ago, someone shot a fake press release around the blogoshpere saying that the SciFi network was going to be renamed SurgeTV. Even as recently as last fall, surveys were going around suggesting that the name would change to Beyond. Now we finally have an official name change from the folks at NBC Universal and it's a big one: the Sci Fi network is becoming... the Syfy network.Doesn't sound much different, does it? The shocking thing is that the network went through 300 (!) names before picking the phonetic version of their existing name. The name is supposed to be the "best of both worlds," network president Dave Howe tells TV Week; it sounds like the old name but it looks less geeky than the abbreviation for "Science Fiction." The new name and logo will start appearing on July 7, when the dramedy Warehouse 13 is launched.
Oh, and what has become of our friends at the excellent blog SyFy Portal? Well, they've also changed their name, to Airlock Alpha, selling the SyFy brand to "an undisclosed entity." Could that entity have a short, bald, opinionated failer-upper at its helm? Nah...
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
3-16-2009 @ 10:30AM
EbonyDad said...
Oh yes... another channel reboot. Because Sci-Fi was so hard to spell!
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3-16-2009 @ 10:38AM
Gary said...
Stupid and pointless. This is the kind of half measure that comes out of committee thinking. It won't satisfy anyone. Heck, Beyond would've been better.
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3-16-2009 @ 10:57AM
Ernie said...
Pointless, like most of their programming.
Now TV Land should be renamed "High
School Reunion Land" since that's about
all they try and shove down viewers throats.
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3-16-2009 @ 10:56AM
litehousebeacon said...
Just plain dumb.
Thank you, that is all.
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3-16-2009 @ 10:59AM
CParis said...
Hey, they have until July to come up with something better.
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3-16-2009 @ 11:04AM
Claire said...
Ok...but how does the name change affect the slight channel drift they've been experiencing. Because I enjoy having a channel devoted to sci-fi/fantasy/horror programming, not one that offers wrestling and other trivial reality shows.
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3-16-2009 @ 11:11AM
Modwild said...
Guess they couldn't use "Beyond" because it was already taken by Showtime. I don't see what difference it makes, but maybe it energizes the owners and production staff of the channel, which could amount to good things. And, maybe you guys will get T-shirts and fun stuff, so goody for you! ;-)
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3-16-2009 @ 11:19AM
Galley said...
Sheesh! That name is almost as bad as "Wii".
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3-16-2009 @ 11:32AM
GL said...
This surely means more original SyFy Muuvees in the future.
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3-16-2009 @ 11:46AM
Gill said...
Pointless? Clearly a lack of marketing intelligence on this site.
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3-16-2009 @ 11:53AM
Jimmy said...
More money wasted that could actually go into making good, quality programming. "Imagine Greater"? Perhaps NBC Universal needs to take its own advise because there is a real lack of imagination on this network.
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3-16-2009 @ 12:13PM
Zach said...
I actually agree with the name change, but I just think it's a stupid name. I actually thought they should have named it Universal, and then rename Unviersal to Universal 2 or something like that. Universal would make a lot more sense, and still have a sci-fi type meaning in it.
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3-16-2009 @ 12:31PM
hessian said...
In a continuing effort to rename and rebrand their various prorgamming stream (not channels, mind you) Jeff Zucker will soon be announcing the following name changes in the NBCU family:
YOU ESSAY!
SEEIN' BE SEE!
EMMIS 'N BE SEE!
WHETHER
For God's sake. FIRE Jeff Zucker. Save these networks.
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3-16-2009 @ 12:41PM
Joel Keller said...
+1 to hessian...
3-16-2009 @ 12:43PM
Andy said...
They really think this is LESS geeky than SciFi? And since when does a network devoted to science fiction care about appearing geeky?
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3-16-2009 @ 12:45PM
Jan Ski said...
They might as well change the name to "STONE" which stands for Shows That Other Networks Ended. The really good original programming has all but disappeared and only reruns of cancelled shows remain.
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3-16-2009 @ 1:01PM
Kronos said...
Too bad we're not closer to April 1st - at least then we could imagine it's a bad April Fool's joke.
Seriously, wtf. I'm down with Andy, how is this LESS geeky?
And what happened to brand recognition? You knew when you changed the channel to "SciFi" what it was you were going to get. Or at least used to, until they added wrestling (again, wtf?) and goofy reality based shows.
"SciFi" conjures up a distinct genre in five simple letters - you don't even have to think about it. "SyFy"? What the hell does that mean?
Example: you've all seen that commercial on TV where people click their heels three times and think of home/dinner rolls? OK, now think about what kind of cultural impact that simple gesture has had in which an explanation isn't needed - you know it means "going home". Now what if they stomped their foot three times, wouldn't make any sense would it? Same deal with "SciFi" - "SyFy" is the equivalent of stamping your feet when you meant to click your heels.
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3-16-2009 @ 1:39PM
Fishbonex said...
The only reason is so they can now buy and produce materials that has ZERO to do with SciFi and/or Fantasy. Watch for more wrestling. Watch for more reality shows based on people hooking up. Watch for more shows aimed at the teenage demographic. MTV plays no music these days, and never ever refer to themselves as Music Television. Expect the same here.
3-16-2009 @ 2:47PM
Jennifer said...
Laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaame.
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3-16-2009 @ 1:51PM
Piper said...
It sounds like some kind of venereal disease, nuff said
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