Scifi's new programming

[Owain Taggart]

SYFY : The Home of Star Trek

Looks nice, dunnit?

Actually, for the longest time, that pretty much described Canada's Space channel. At one time, they had all Star Treks in their schedule, giving it the distinction of the only channel to actively air all Treks at any given time as part of their active schedule. On any given day, you'd be able to watch all 5 treks. TOS would air, then TNG, then DS9, VOY and ENT, and on special occasions like Christmas they'd have movie marathons. Though now it's been paired down to only airing TNG and VOY.

Edited for accuracy.

 

[Tim Walker]

To answer my own question, if I was a Sy Fy suit I would likely research the costs of an encore channel, compared to other alternatives. I would look into "reality" shows (which are relatively cheap to produce).

 

[eyeresist]

Maybe not so cheap, but how about "Space Camp: the reality show"?

There are two ways you could approach it:

1. 12 ordinary Janes and Joes stay in a "space camp" adjacent to NASA, where they undergo various fun tests and simulations (build the Apollo 13 improvised air cleaner under a time limit, perform tasks while weightless in the vomit comet), with one flunking out each week. Maybe get the Mythbusters to host (Mythbusters is another show of the kind Syfy should be making).

2. Big Brother as a Mars mission simulation. Obviously you would not go for hyper realism here, but look for colourful personalities to increase drama (and simply replace Big Brother with Mission Control). It would also be fun when contestants are thrown out of the biosphere - they could try to outdo each other in dramatic asphyxiation.

I wouldn't watch option 2, but there is a market for that kind of show.

 

[RJDiogenes]

I think we're using the term 'fluff' differently. I've said that there is good, well made, entertaining fluff. It may be lightweight, fanciful, implausible or tongue in cheek, but can still be great television. To use another genre, there's room for 'Chuck' as well as 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy'.

Fluff vs Grit. Both can be good - the term fluff isn't derogatory.

Okay, I getcha. Most people use terms like "fluff" and "cheese" to describe stuff that's not worth watching.

Suppose that you are a Sy Fy suit. It is your job to come up with a profitable schedule. What would you do?

All wrestling 24/7.

But, to be serious, I would definitely try to pull in classic names like Star Trek and Twilight Zone to build a schedule around. I would lean more toward SF as opposed to Fantasy, and make it all as colorful and exotic as possible, as an antidote to the gritty, muted look that's been in vogue for the past thirty-plus years. I mean, even good stuff like Walking Dead and Game of Thrones looks like it's been left out on the driveway overnight in the rain.

 

[Tim Walker]

A thought occurred to me-how do you attract viewers other than fandom?

 

[Greg Cox]

But, to be serious, I would definitely try to pull in classic names like Star Trek and Twilight Zone to build a schedule around. I would lean more toward SF as opposed to Fantasy, and make it all as colorful and exotic as possible, as an antidote to the gritty, muted look that's been in vogue for the past thirty-plus years. I mean, even good stuff like Walking Dead and Game of Thrones looks like it's been left out on the driveway overnight in the rain.

On the other hand, you probably don't go want to go too heavily down the nostalgia road. That's what stations like MeTV are for. Nobody wants to go back to the bad old days when the Sci-Fi Channel was basically a graveyard for dead sci-fi shows, running nonstop reruns of old series from the past--or recently cancelled flops like Wolf Lake and such.

Nostalgia alone is not going to attract younger viewers, and is probably even less of a draw now that most everything is available on DVD or via Netflix. Anybody who really wants to revisit the original Battlestar Galactica or Lost in Space or whatever probably already has the boxed set . . . .

 

[Owain Taggart]

1. 12 ordinary Janes and Joes stay in a "space camp" adjacent to NASA, where they undergo various fun tests and simulations (build the Apollo 13 improvised air cleaner under a time limit, perform tasks while weightless in the vomit comet), with one flunking out each week. Maybe get the Mythbusters to host (Mythbusters is another show of the kind Syfy should be making).

I actually really like this idea. More or less go through the same tests astronauts have to undergo and see if they've got what it takes. At the end, the winner gets to be taken out for a sub-orbital flight. By then, Virgin Galactic would likely be running regular flights.

 

[cylkoth]

A thought occurred to me-how do you attract viewers other than fandom?

That may sound like an impossibly hard to attain goal, but it isn't. Sci Fi Channel attracted sizeable audiences that were not composed entirely of genre fans in the past. Our problem has always been with the suits not appreciating the success of their programming, and building on it. And bowing to stereotypes of genre fans, making them (the suits), feel the grass was always greener in some other cable channel's backyard.

It boggles the mind that they could get Steven Spielberg to produce the miniseries Taken, which aired to high ratings and positive critical reviews, and they-never-continued-to-persue-that-relationship afterwards. Who gets into bed with Spielberg, and hops out of it???! They broadcast a successful string of December miniseries, from Dune and Children of Dune, Tin Man, The Lost Room, and Taken...and then they stopped.

It can be done. It has been done. And that's the frustration with the channel. They've already done ratings pleasing shows and features. Yet, they insist on chasing this mythical white whale of "a broad audience that doesn't like science fiction and fantasy programming" , where their success just isn't enough and embrace an attitude of shame and derision of the core audience-us.

 

[Guy Gardener]

Warehouse 13 was the X-Files and Men In Black.

What I really want is more Todd and the Book of Pure Evil.

Which is a Canadian issue and not a Yank issue, but how hard would it be for SyFy to pick up the pieces Space dropped, if they had the balls for something so past the absurd and approaching pornographic.

 

[Vendikarr]

But, to be serious, I would definitely try to pull in classic names like Star Trek and Twilight Zone to build a schedule around. I would lean more toward SF as opposed to Fantasy, and make it all as colorful and exotic as possible, as an antidote to the gritty, muted look that's been in vogue for the past thirty-plus years. I mean, even good stuff like Walking Dead and Game of Thrones looks like it's been left out on the driveway overnight in the rain.

On the other hand, you probably don't go want to go too heavily down the nostalgia road. That's what stations like MeTV are for. Nobody wants to go back to the bad old days when the Sci-Fi Channel was basically a graveyard for dead sci-fi shows, running nonstop reruns of old series from the past--or recently cancelled flops like Wolf Lake and such.

Nostalgia alone is not going to attract younger viewers, and is probably even less of a draw now that most everything is available on DVD or via Netflix. Anybody who really wants to revisit the original Battlestar Galactica or Lost in Space or whatever probably already has the boxed set . . . .

I think the nostalga thing would work better if they did an 'adult swim' and programmed classic series and edgy programming overnight. Do Batman 66 or Green Hornet, then air an hour long like Lost in Space or Time Tunnel.. and then maybe something like Carnivale or Dead Like Me without edits for commercial television.

And perhaps intersperse shorts or skits or a host in there. Almost similar to the Up All Night format USA Network had when they launched.

 

[Owain Taggart]

On the other hand, you probably don't go want to go too heavily down the nostalgia road. That's what stations like MeTV are for. Nobody wants to go back to the bad old days when the Sci-Fi Channel was basically a graveyard for dead sci-fi shows, running nonstop reruns of old series from the past--or recently cancelled flops like Wolf Lake and such.

Yeah, and see, I agree with that. I was thinking more in terms of a few classics alongside new shows, and some that they've missed out on the first time around and I don't think that's unreasonable. If you maybe, say, dedicate an hour to classic programming that can be swapped out every once in awhile, I don't see how that would be a bad thing. I'm thinking in terms of more variety for the viewers.

If I were an exec, I'd push hard to make the channel a one-stop sci-fi & fantasy destination and build their brand around that.

 

[Tim Walker]

A thought occurred to me-how do you attract viewers other than fandom?

Yet, they insist on chasing this mythical white whale of "a broad audience that doesn't like science fiction and fantasy programming" .

Maybe they could do a channel of 24/7 wrestling.

 

[RJDiogenes]

But, to be serious, I would definitely try to pull in classic names like Star Trek and Twilight Zone to build a schedule around. I would lean more toward SF as opposed to Fantasy, and make it all as colorful and exotic as possible, as an antidote to the gritty, muted look that's been in vogue for the past thirty-plus years. I mean, even good stuff like Walking Dead and Game of Thrones looks like it's been left out on the driveway overnight in the rain.

On the other hand, you probably don't go want to go too heavily down the nostalgia road.

My bad for not being clear. I mean to say new Star Trek and Twilight Zone series.

 

[Greg Cox]

But, to be serious, I would definitely try to pull in classic names like Star Trek and Twilight Zone to build a schedule around. I would lean more toward SF as opposed to Fantasy, and make it all as colorful and exotic as possible, as an antidote to the gritty, muted look that's been in vogue for the past thirty-plus years. I mean, even good stuff like Walking Dead and Game of Thrones looks like it's been left out on the driveway overnight in the rain.

On the other hand, you probably don't go want to go too heavily down the nostalgia road.

My bad for not being clear. I mean to say new Star Trek and Twilight Zone series.

Ah, I misunderstood you. Oops!

 

[Tim Walker]

Maybe a new Outer Limits series, too? There might be a niche for anthology series such as the Outer Limits and the Twilight Zone.

 

[Tim Walker]

Yeah, and see, I agree with that. I was thinking more in terms of a few classics alongside new shows, If you maybe, say, dedicate an hour to classic programming that can be swapped out every once in awhile, I don't see how that would be a bad thing. I'm thinking in terms of more variety for the viewers.

If I were an exec, I'd push hard to make the channel a one-stop sci-fi & fantasy destination and build their brand around that.

Call it the classic hour. I like it!

 

[Tim Walker]

What about imported shows?

I was looking at a Wikipedia article regarding Sy Fy's present programming. Mentioned was Metal Hurlant Chronicles, described as an English language Franco-Belgian science fiction anthology.

 

[cylkoth]

Continuum, The Almighty Johnsons, Lost Girl and Dominion are all imported series.

As we parse over the programming decisions made by the channel over the years, it is with some irony that this weekend's movie schedule offered the quality we wish they would maintain on a regular basis...
Saturday...

Sunday

But then things go back to normal Monday...

 

[Tim Walker]

Sorry, I should have been more specific, I meant shows not produced in English speaking countries.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

What about imported shows?

I was looking at a Wikipedia article regarding Sy Fy's present programming. Mentioned was Metal Hurlant Chronicles, described as an English language Franco-Belgian science fiction anthology.

Sorry, I should have been more specific, I meant shows not produced in English speaking countries.

Probably not a lot of English language shows not produced in English speaking countries for Syfy to import.