No one forces you to do anything. You like wrestling - most people don't.
Are you annoyed because its "Syfy" or just name change in general?
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I suppose that's still preferable compared to a "sci-fi" channel that airs wrestling. In a sense that particular example also illustrates why I think the name isn't really important at all.
I can certainly understand not liking the change in direction. But I don't think the name change is very important. I think one simply has to see what they'll actually do in terms of their programming.
The name is stupid. Replacing the I's with Y's. 
It just reeks of stuffy old men in suits trying to appeal to the kids by making the name look like something on a poorly formated Twitter page.
What was wrong with "SciFi" exactly? And I think "Beyond" would've been a fine change and not gotten as much ire from viewers.
But that it's a dumb, manufactured, corporate braininac "marketable" bastardization spelling of "ScFi" is what stirs up the anger.
It just reeks of stuffy old men in suits trying to appeal to the kids by making the name look like something on a poorly formated Twitter page.
What was wrong with "SciFi" exactly? And I think "Beyond" would've been a fine change and not gotten as much ire from viewers.
But that it's a dumb, manufactured, corporate braininac "marketable" bastardization spelling of "ScFi" is what stirs up the anger.
"Beyond", "Imagine", or "IF" would have been great for a name for a science fiction network. Since SyFy doesn't want to be that anymore, I'm kinda glad they didn't choose those names. "SyFy" is a ridiculous hybrid, though. Am I the only one whose mental tongue slows down every time she reads that? It's as if the diphthongs in the y's get tangled in my brain. 
Seriously though, I think the overall reaction has been one of a cathartic release of pent-up frustration with the channel failing to be what sci-fi fans wanted it to be. When it first launched, it was like geek heaven. I remember watching the news mag show that Chase Masterson hosted and just loving it. I remember lazy Saturday morning MST3K with unhealthy late breakfasts and more hilarity than a person should be allowed, even on a Saturday. I remember Sci-Fi Fridays with nostalgic fondness - the programming wasn't always fabulous, but at least they were trying. And you had weekday marathons that you could set up your VCR to tape and get caught up on great old shows that you missed the first time around because you weren't born or were too young to appreciate them.
THOSE were the things I loved about the Sci-Fi Channel. I miss it.
Really, I'd be happy with a sci-fi classics channel that didn't do any original programming at all - just ran reruns of all the old shows and bought the rights to new shows as they came along. Create an AMC or a TCM of science fiction, and I'd been in geek heaven.
Seriously though, I think the overall reaction has been one of a cathartic release of pent-up frustration with the channel failing to be what sci-fi fans wanted it to be. When it first launched, it was like geek heaven. I remember watching the news mag show that Chase Masterson hosted and just loving it. I remember lazy Saturday morning MST3K with unhealthy late breakfasts and more hilarity than a person should be allowed, even on a Saturday. I remember Sci-Fi Fridays with nostalgic fondness - the programming wasn't always fabulous, but at least they were trying. And you had weekday marathons that you could set up your VCR to tape and get caught up on great old shows that you missed the first time around because you weren't born or were too young to appreciate them.
THOSE were the things I loved about the Sci-Fi Channel. I miss it.
Really, I'd be happy with a sci-fi classics channel that didn't do any original programming at all - just ran reruns of all the old shows and bought the rights to new shows as they came along. Create an AMC or a TCM of science fiction, and I'd been in geek heaven.
Really, I'd be happy with a sci-fi classics channel that didn't do any original programming at all - just ran reruns of all the old shows and bought the rights to new shows as they came along. Create an AMC or a TCM of science fiction, and I'd been in geek heaven.
I agree.
Actually, NBCU didn't buy it directly. They used a company called New Fizz Corp. Although they did use NBCU's external IP lawyer, which is what made us suspect during the final stages of negotiations that this was NBCU.
Wow, three shows, great. And at least one or two of those probably won't be around in a year.
In Canada, Space isn't the only place I can find science fiction, but it's the only place where I can go any day of the week or any time of the day to find sci-fi/fantasy programming. That's the way SciFi should be.
I think Sci Fi is making a mistake with their branding. The entertainment industry is becoming even more and more focused, not less. If Sci Fi actually wanted to retain existing viewers and attract more people, they would go full on hardcore nothing but sci-fi/fantasy/anime etc 24/7. There is SO MUCH material out there....
I don't see the Outdoor Life Network or the Gardening Channel branching into automotive repair. Stop trying to dilute what is good about the channel with shit like wrestling, eventually it will just be another cable channel that shows a generic mix of whatever the suits at the network got a good deal on this year.
Apparently, Polish fans have pointed out that in Polish, "syfy" is a slang term literally meaning "scum, zits, filth", which is frequently used to actually refer to the veneral disease Syphylis.
That is to say, several English-speaking fans including myself were jokingly calling it "SYFYlis" already, but in Polish, "Syfy" is *actually* the common term for syphylis.
Oh, it's also an obvious shortening of "SCience FIction" in Polish, in the sense that say, "AIDS" would be an acceptible acronym for "American Industrial Development Systems"...its just that no one would actually WANT to use sucha name.
This just keeps getting better.
Well why I'm annoyed at it remains:
1-it was stupid to rename it to anything other than "THE Scifi Channel" on general principle; it reflects that they couldn't live up to the name, and are trying to alienate their own core fanbase
2-"Syfy" sounds like something cooked up by out-of-touch execs living in a bubble, trying to theorize what teenagers who use text-messages would use as a texting name for the series; trying too hard to be hip; like "Poochie" on the Simpsons
3-It literally sounds like "Syphlis"; at least the old derisive fan nickname for the series was "Skiffy", which sounded like peanut butter.
That is to say, several English-speaking fans including myself were jokingly calling it "SYFYlis" already, but in Polish, "Syfy" is *actually* the common term for syphylis.
Oh, it's also an obvious shortening of "SCience FIction" in Polish, in the sense that say, "AIDS" would be an acceptible acronym for "American Industrial Development Systems"...its just that no one would actually WANT to use sucha name.
This just keeps getting better.
Well why I'm annoyed at it remains:
1-it was stupid to rename it to anything other than "THE Scifi Channel" on general principle; it reflects that they couldn't live up to the name, and are trying to alienate their own core fanbase
2-"Syfy" sounds like something cooked up by out-of-touch execs living in a bubble, trying to theorize what teenagers who use text-messages would use as a texting name for the series; trying too hard to be hip; like "Poochie" on the Simpsons
3-It literally sounds like "Syphlis"; at least the old derisive fan nickname for the series was "Skiffy", which sounded like peanut butter.
I understand the situation. Thus the sentence "Even if he wasn't aware of who exactly wanted it [the Syfy brand], you can bet he had a pretty good idea, considering the name and the reportedly significant sum of money involved." I can understand the financial impetus to sell. It's exactly what I would have done. I was just pointing out what seemed hypocritical to me, that is all.
Congratulations on making money off a name that Skiffy will most likely be forced to drop.
You'll be able to buy it back later, on the cheap.
Tough. You can all keep blaming ECW for Sci-Fi's problems but answer me this - what exactly are Sci-Fi doing with the rest of the hours in a week when they're not showing Battlestar Galactica or ECW ?
I've looked at their schedule, it's endless repeats, bad Asylum movies and Eureka.
All that has happened here is that Sci-Fi staved off the inevitable when they signed up Stargate SG-1.
And again, ECW has nothing to do with their branding and a lot more to do with NBC Universal's contractual obligations to World Wrestling Entertainment.
At least ECW delivers ratings, which is more than I can say for 99% of Sci-Fi's other output.
I've been annoyed with Scifi since that ECW thing and cancellation of Farscape
Painkiller Jayne or Bullshitstar Galactica did nothing to change my mind about them
"Syfy" is just the cherry on top
Painkiller Jayne or Bullshitstar Galactica did nothing to change my mind about them
"Syfy" is just the cherry on top
I think that the 'new direction' doesn't mean less science fiction shows, but that SyFy can now be trademarked, and thus allow them to expand into different markets like games and books and other non-television markets
'Sci-Fi' was too general to be trademarked
I have a feeling that any change in programming on the network itself will be minimal, aside from some shows going off the air being replaced by re-runs or new shows like
Caprica
Sanctuary
Warehouse 13
Eureka
Ghost Hunters
Destination Truth
Cha$e
etcetera
I think the name itself is stupid, but the channel itself probably won't be too much different a year from now
'Sci-Fi' was too general to be trademarked
I have a feeling that any change in programming on the network itself will be minimal, aside from some shows going off the air being replaced by re-runs or new shows like
Caprica
Sanctuary
Warehouse 13
Eureka
Ghost Hunters
Destination Truth
Cha$e
etcetera
I think the name itself is stupid, but the channel itself probably won't be too much different a year from now
6/10.
Now that I would have watched. The tagline: "Hard to resist: Vera. Harder to kill: Knitted hat."
AETN was able to trademark History (which is about as general as you can get), so why couldn't NBCU trademark Sci-Fi or SciFi? It's not even officially "The History Channel" anymore, just "History"!
Ahhh, forget those corporate jerks. We believe in freedom of speech around here! 
The ratings for Farscape went down in the third season and never recovered so it's not surprising that the show was cancelled.
http://www.snurcher.com/indices/ratings.shtml
