New York Times: SciFi Channel to become - Syfy?

[Prior Master]

The best they could do was Syfy? Have we gotten so lazy we can't type two extra characters. I can think of many better names, like Psi-fi - now if I could only think of a joke to tie it to the Psi Core in Babylon 5. But given much of the programing, I think some name using one of the words I probably shouldn't use on here would be better.

Someone should start a new, true Sci-fi channel that has a Babylon 5 spinoff, another Trek series, and a few other, truer science fiction shows instead of wrestling and other stuff that I will change the channel instead of watching. If I have to pay for cable and still sit through countless ads, I deserve a proper sci-fi channel. But I can't wait for the day when the internet truly renders tv obsolete, and the ratings are more accurately measured.

[Stormtrooper]

Skiffy sounds better than SyFy. People at SyFy Wire are already calling SciFi the Syphilis Channel. SciFi just made a caricature out of themselves.

SyFy: Contagiously Icky

[prion]

Skiffy sounds better than SyFy. People at SyFy Wire are already calling SciFi the Syphilis Channel. SciFi just made a caricature out of themselves.

SyFy: Contagiously Icky

Yeah, and that is going across Twitter as well.

A better article than NY Times, because it’s from the ad industry:

http://adage.com/mediaworks/article?article_id=135254

select excerpts:

One sign for Mr. Howe that Syfy could catch on quickly: "We had several people in our focus groups literally tell us that when they text the words 'sci-fi' they spell it 'syfy,'" he said.

To accompany the revised name in July, the network will debut its first tagline, "Imagine greater," and a 3-D logo that does away with the current purple planet icon, to further distance itself from the space-like brand association. "It was so critical to design this in a way that it felt warmer, friendlier, more fun," said Michael Engleman, Sci-Fi's senior VP-creative. "We really wanted to infuse the mark with the same thing we infuse our communication with: fun, whimsy and imagination.”

Mr. Howe's goal is to see Syfy become associated with the word "imagination" the way Coke goes with soda or ESPN is tagged to sports.

--------------------------------------

A few people in a focus group say something so they go with it? Lame. Obviously Mr. Howe doesn’t visit Twitter, because people are using that term – but not in the nicest of terms. Some of the best tweets were “SciFi should have changed its name to "New Coke" and “The worst part about the whole #SyFy thing is the new logo. It is as bland as generic cornflakes. Which might be truth in advertising now” and “Judging by Twitter trends, it looks like outrage over SyFy could overtake AIG bonuses sometime today” it goes downhill from there

Excuse me while I laugh myself silly about SyFy being associated with ‘imagination’. Not as long as they show wrestling, lame reality shows, and stupid horror movies.

And http://www.cnet.com/8301-18603_1-10197108-73.html

“The derisive hoots have already begun. Entertainment industry columnist Nikki Finke points out, "Adding to the idiocy is that there's already a company called SyFi Global, an information technology (specialist)." Meanwhile, Gawker says the network's new tagline, Imagine Greater, "means nothing and is grammatically incoherent."

[ScifigirlSG]

Makes you wonder about the name change. Why not....seye feye...it still has the y's....as in why?????

[Briangate78]

I dunno, SyFy sounds like a chinese restaurant to me. Like the SYFry Dragon.

[Browncoat1984]

Its about as stupid as when Nintendo changed the name of the Revolution to the Wii. What the hell does that mean, anyway?

As soon as Battelstar Galactica is over next week I'll never turn SF on again. I can pursue other avenues for watching Universe when it airs. They stopped being a relevant SF channel years ago and give sci-fi a bad name. Their "original" programming is garbage. The few shows they have that might be decent they make us wait a year between new episodes (Galactica anybody). Even their re-runs are trash - why not pick up the rights to air ALL Star Trek series rather than just TNG and Ent? There's so many classic SF shows out there and Sci-fi only shows less then five precent of them. They don't even show their own original shows anymore like Farscape.

Remember when they did the Dune and Children of Dune miniseries? Those were awesome. Classic SF. Now all they do is the same "monsters are attacking oh noes!" movies every week. How about another Farscape mini? That would go over quite well...or maybe they could pick up a Firefly miniseries? That would be so much better than wrestling.

[VSS]

As a trekkie, I'm offended. It's like a slap in the face to those who like real science fiction. With this name change and programming tilt, I can't see how SGU will fit in(I can but I won't say).

Please....someone....find a home for SGU.

There you have it. They're abandoning real sci fi, and these remarks that prion kindly posted prove it:

To accompany the revised name in July, the network will debut its first tagline, "Imagine greater," and a 3-D logo that does away with the current purple planet icon, to further distance itself from the space-like brand association. "It was so critical to design this in a way that it felt warmer, friendlier, more fun," said Michael Engleman, Sci-Fi's senior VP-creative.

Warmer, friendlier, and more fun. Is this a joke?

Heaven help the person who might want to might want to think and watch TV at the same time- we're doomed. I think I'll go watch my Radius DVD now and never turn on the TV again.

Oh wait, I forgot- already dumped pay TV.

I get what I need from hulu, netflix, itunes and Amazon and still come out way ahead financially. And emotionally, too, because I'm not paying for ANY poor-quality programming AT ALL.

[VSS]

Remember when they did the Dune and Children of Dune miniseries? Those were awesome. Classic SF. Now all they do is the same "monsters are attacking oh noes!" movies every week. How about another Farscape mini? That would go over quite well...or maybe they could pick up a Firefly miniseries? That would be so much better than wrestling.

I remember that Dune miniseries- it saved my weekend because I was stuck indoors at a ski resort. Everyone else skiied and I watched Dune.

They have Firefly on Hulu. Last night I was too lazy to actually get out my Firefly DVD's and so we started a rewatch straight from there. My computer is connected to the plasma screen, along with the DVD, BluRay and Wii. It occurred to me we didn't need pay TV anymore and we have gone two months without it. Now that the kids actually have to put some effort into what they watch, it cuts down on their viewing time, too. Which can only be a good thing. Although I did have to shell out $10 for Mythbuster DVDs for the little guy.

This week I figured out that we can load up a couple of dozen CNN or Fox news videos at a time, as well. But really, most news isn't news anyway. 95% of TV is trash. Why pay for it? We have computers all over the house- for us this makes sense.

[wvsandy]

This kind of reminds me of when TNN changed their name to Spike TV (a name which I still associate with a certain sexy vampire). I thought Spike was a stupid name for a network, and I think SyFy is a stupid spelling.

Whatever their name is though, after the BSG finale, I won't be watching anything on the channel until Sanctuary returns. They can call themselves UR18-49&MALE for all I care.

[Hatusu]

Why is "SYFY" so annoying? It's annoying because it is illiterate, cutesy and condescending.

Last year, I joined the NBC online research panel so I could specifically have some influence regarding the SciFi channel, however recently they rarely asked questions about science fiction. It was always other shows.

The next time they contact me, they are going to get some %$^^&@*! in the comment section. I am so darned angry at not being considered valuable by networks because I'm not a fan "girl". I still spend money and I watch their other networks as well, so it is not wise to insult people like me.

As for SGU, I'm sorry, but I am not very excited about the show yet. I'm glad that it's coming. but I'm very disappointed in the description of the female characters. As for the cast being great, I'm only familiar with a couple actors. They are fine, but they won't draw me to the show. At this point, the only thing that draws me to the show is Mr. Brad Wright.

I too, remember SCiFi in the beginning, with the goofy intros and the classic reruns. I definitely watched it more back then than I do now. What does that tell you?

This feels like a wake for a friend who has been going down hill for a long time, so...

Thank you, SciFi for taking over "Stargate SG-1" and bringing us "Farscape", "Stargate Atlantis" and "BattleStar Gallactica". Unfortunately, I have no loyalty to SyFy. The only way you will earn that is to bring back ScFi Friday and fill it with real thought provoking science fiction. And by science fiction, I don't mean monsters, fake ghosts and wrestling.

It used to be fun...

[Hatusu]

"As per SCI FI they are doing this because of the more broader programming they offer now. Shows like ECW, Chase, Estate of Panic, and etc do not really fit in the category of Science Fiction.

Then why call it SyFy at all?

There goal has been to get a younger audience. Let's face it the classic Science Fiction fan base is aging, and they want a fresh new perspective to attract younger viewers."

I may be aging, but I can still turn on the T.V. and hobble to the store. What insulting dreck! It's interesting how rarely people are called on ageism. Where does SyFy cut us off and consider us worthless: age 55? 40? 35? the womb?

[prion]

As a trekkie, I'm offended. It's like a slap in the face to those who like real science fiction. With this name change and programming tilt, I can't see how SGU will fit in(I can but I won't say).

Please....someone....find a home for SGU.

SGU will be a mixture of Stargate and BSG... SG in title and with some plot, but more BSG in style, at least that's what I'm betting and it's what Skiffy wants in order to maintain a grasp on both SG and BSG fans, who will just drift away otherwise.

[prion]

Last year, I joined the NBC online research panel so I could specifically have some influence regarding the SciFi channel, however recently they rarely asked questions about science fiction. It was always other shows.

I just did one of those NBC surveys; nothing on scifi, but everything on PSYCH, or MONK, or some reality show. I wish they'd one on the Skiffy channel as I'd certain have something to say.

[Hatusu]

I just did one of those NBC surveys; nothing on scifi, but everything on PSYCH, or MONK, or some reality show. I wish they'd one on the Skiffy channel as I'd certain have something to say.

They didn't even have any of my shows on the list to check off.

[MediaSavant]

Then why call it SyFy at all?

As I've already said, this is all about owning the trademark.

It's plainly admitted in the NY Times story.