You've got to love those marketing folks, right? In an effort to grab an "ownable trademark" that will be more easily recognized on EPGs and online video portals such as iTunes and
Hulu, NBC Universal has decided it best to rebrand Sci Fi Channel as 'Syfy.' Phonetically, everything remains the same, but it's the visual difference that counts. The change is expected to take place on July 7th here in the US, with other regions following suit in Q3. We're still not sure we're hot on the whole
MHD-to-Palladia thing, but we kind of dig this change -- agree / disagree?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Streaker @ Mar 18th 2009 5:05AM
A rose by any other name, would smell as sweet. Unfortunately, we're talking about the SciFi Channel, which stinks... no matter which name they use.
Peter F @ Mar 18th 2009 9:43AM
We can revisit this notion after BSG is gone.... until then, no.
Quote the Raven @ Mar 18th 2009 5:02PM
Wouldn't they have to have a product worth copying/pirating to worry about it being a "ownable trademark"? My dog just took a monster crap, I don't think I need to go scoop it up put it in a safe and rename it "krap" to keep it from being taken. The stench does just fine for that.
J.Goodwin @ Mar 18th 2009 5:32AM
I'm with streaker. It should have been the skiffy channel from the start.
Arsenal @ Mar 18th 2009 6:59AM
Great new name. Especially in Poland( we have Sci-Fi Ch.). Word "syfy" means "pimples on face". In a dirty way.
Actually, it does fit Sci-Fi Channel perfectly :)
bgbop15 @ Mar 18th 2009 6:54AM
As if I didn't need another reason not to watch this channel...
From Cinematical:
["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," Tim Brooks, who helped launch Sci Fi Channel, told TVWeek. "It's somewhat cooler and better than the name 'Science Fiction.' But even the name Sci Fi is limiting."]
majorfalcon @ Mar 18th 2009 8:06AM
Way to crap on the people who actually watch your channel SciFi...oh, you want to be called SyFy now don't you.
Anthony @ Mar 18th 2009 8:10AM
I think that changing the name of the channel is lame. SciFi channel is known for showing Science Fiction shows, and they are already showing things that have nothing to do with that. Pretty soon it will be nothing more than another channel on TV showing dribble like Teletubies and Desperate House Wives...............
Boo on them.
Eddie @ Mar 18th 2009 8:40AM
There just positioning it to become another MTV. Soon there will be no SciFi on Syfy.
Ogden2k @ Mar 18th 2009 2:10PM
I could see that coming when SciFi broke up SciFi Friday (SG1/SGA/BSG) and then started airing wrestling. I have lost a lot of respect for the SciFi Channel.
acme @ Mar 18th 2009 8:27AM
why?
Izzy @ Mar 18th 2009 8:40AM
Just plain Stoopyd
JimC @ Mar 18th 2009 9:08AM
Since battlestar galactica will be done with, it won't matter much to me...
mitchelljd @ Mar 18th 2009 11:27AM
Actually if you like Battlestar Galactica, Caprica is coming soon. the pre-quel series.
http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=14&id=57977
... as for the channel name change. i wish they picked something better. SyFy is pretty lame.
JimC @ Mar 18th 2009 8:54AM
Why would Sci Fi be a ownable trademark?
JimC @ Mar 18th 2009 9:05AM
Why would Sci Fi *not* be an ownable trademark?
darklighter @ Mar 18th 2009 3:07PM
Because it's a generic term. You can't trademark "Crime", "Mystery", "Western", or "Fantasy", either.
JasonArmadillo @ Mar 18th 2009 9:08AM
Misdirected waste of time and money based on marketing theories and conjecture related to demographics and increasing viewership. "We'll get more viewers if we change the name of our channel." Um, no...
Networks gain viewers by broadcasting stuff that is well-written, has good stories, good actors (i.e., David Hasselhoff probably turns away more viewers than he attracts).
No one cares about the name of the channel. Instead of focusing on that, put a little more time, effort, and money into those "SyFy" original movies and other original programming. Don't cancel stuff that people watch (Farscape, etc.).
USA figured it out a while ago (Monk, Burn Notice, Dead Zone, etc). It's not that hard.
jason @ Mar 18th 2009 9:18AM
lol, I still don't understand why SyFy is better than Scifi. I can't think of the perfect example, but what if Lifetime changed its name to Lyfetyme. Seems like a big change to show up on portals, but then again maybe I just haven't noticed the issue.
chuckf1 @ Mar 18th 2009 9:40AM
Will the History Channel then change its name to Hystory or Discovery Channel to Dyscovery or Cinemax to Cynemax?
The Sci-Fi name change is a goofy idea which, to use the Barney Fife-sim, should be "nipped in the bud."
Brian from Texas @ Mar 18th 2009 10:16AM
Please let this be an early April Fools joke. I don't watch the station but it's stupid to change the spelling to SyFy. When my child asks "What does that mean" it will be too difficult to answer.
lee @ Mar 18th 2009 11:03AM
What is the difference? It is still cheesy science fiction and wrestling for some strange reason
tblor @ Mar 18th 2009 1:06PM
When I read this I literally checked my calendar to see how far off April 1st is.
egroman @ Mar 18th 2009 10:19AM
SyFy? Looks like a foreshortening of sissyfy to me. Sure, SciFi may be too generic to be protectable, but really, what does a sound alike spelled as if by an idiot accomplish? Market expansion? Good luck.....
scjessey @ Mar 18th 2009 10:48AM
This is just an excuse for more wrestling, reality TV and non-SF/fantasy programming. The channel is turning into a clone of Spike TV.
glenn s @ Mar 18th 2009 11:29AM
Would be better if they just kept their original programming Friday evenings and shut down for the rest of the week. Then they could call in the SyFry channel.
Charles @ Mar 18th 2009 12:17PM
Sci Fi: "Hey, look, we're Hooked on Phonics too!"
Big Glare @ Mar 18th 2009 12:21PM
It should be called Bmon, for all the B-Monster movies they seem to have on all the time. Personally Battlestar is over, and with it the desire watch the channel. A new name wont change the fact I don't want to watch "Sorority Girls in the Slimball Bowl-a-rama" or " The Space Monster from the Yellow Lagoon on Ghost Mountain"
Eric @ Mar 18th 2009 12:23PM
Well, it's not surprising since it's barely a science fiction channel to start with. It would have more aptly been named Horror Channel.
Second of all, the fool's description of science fiction reflects the perception of the general public, maybe, but changing the name like that does nothing for it. It's still the horror channel with a tad bit of science fiction in it.
As for what science fiction is about, read some Iain M. Banks, Charles Stross, Peter Watts, Paul Melko and their contemporaries and you might find the hard science fiction is the last bastion of real philosophy being practiced in this day and age. The philosophy set are more about posturing with flavor of the month themes rather than really dig into the nature of existence. (Of course, this is grossly simplified, but I felt like ranting a bit about the state of Sci Fi and philosophy.)
phil @ Mar 18th 2009 12:25PM
That is one of the dumbest moves I've ever heard of, and the new name sucks.
Neil Battelle @ Mar 18th 2009 1:26PM
Great. The Syphilis Channel. Oh well, it's been diseased for a long time, anyway.
GhostDoggy @ Mar 18th 2009 2:04PM
They must be doing this because of all those cowsumers (me included) that have complained about the channel diluting the 'theme' with all the non-Sci-Fi programming. Its amazing how these channels claim to be themed and yet their programming runs the entire gambit.
clara @ Mar 18th 2009 3:53PM
I hope SciFi and [NBC?] is paying attention. The new name is incredibly dumb, the only reason to do it has to be google hits and a clearer trademark/copyright (because "sci fi" refers also to a huge genre).
And like other people have stated, SciFi channel has lost its way with this stupid wrestling and fake reality TV (ghost hunters et al) that play to the neuroses of people too stupid to know what "sci" stands for.
The other bad thing about SciFi is their completely idiotic movies. They absolutely suck. All of them. I mean, of all the great "sci fi" movies and shows out there, why bother running and re-running this crap? Can't they somehow encourage science fiction content with better values, more intelligence, etc??
The ONLY good moves they've made in the last few years is their headliner shows, like BSG, SG, and a few others. It's too bad they don't also buy good scifi movies.
ZeitgeistXIII @ Mar 18th 2009 4:25PM
The dumbing down of America continues. The "Idocracy" continues to gain momentum.
Next Fudd-Ruckers will be changing their name.
Trevor @ Mar 19th 2009 12:56PM
Great movie!! It doesn't require a time machine to see this future on the horizon.
SciFi has been failing for some time. They have cancelled all of their premium products and VERY soon BSG will be gone as well. It's like TechTV all over again.
1 - Serve a niche market.
2 - Realize niche markets don't provide buckets of revenue.
3 - Change your product to fit the masses.
New name reminds me of a line from Scrubs: "Sy-sy-sy-syphillis"
Sonic pebbles @ Mar 18th 2009 5:50PM
I can't believe that this even made the news, who cares if they change the name. Some of the crap the have on stinks (like Wrestling). tired of twilight zone, tired of star trek, tired of SCIFI
they can eat duck butt.
nick @ Mar 18th 2009 5:53PM
Personally, I think it was a bad move on the part of Sci Fi
SyFy is just plain stupid.
And I've already seen several jokes making fun of the change. So yeah, that's what you want. People making fun of you.
LonnieDvD @ Mar 18th 2009 8:08PM
Sci-Fi is not a bad channel, but it makes too many cheesy movies. Now that Battlestar Galactica is coming to an end, the only show I have to look forward to is season 2 of Sanctuary. This new Caprica show doesn't look good at all to me.
DavidB @ Mar 18th 2009 8:38PM
I predict not only a name change, but a complete abandonment of SciFi, Science Fiction, whatever you want to call it.
They are already half way there. Wrestling, reality shows, game shows.
Bye Bye SciFi, hello Spike 2..
atmusky @ Mar 19th 2009 7:54AM
Does anyone really care what channel/network they are watching? I watch shows I like or moves I want to see doesn't matter to me what channel they are on.
I really don't care if a show I like is on the ScFi, Syfi or for that matter the bull s*** network.
If you are so brain dead that marketing of a "Network" causes you to watch a channel even if you don't like the show I have a great investment deal for you -
Drew_Ill @ Mar 19th 2009 8:56AM
Thys ys really stupyd. See?!
scotts13@comcast.net @ Mar 20th 2009 5:43PM
The only thing more stupid than this upcoming name change will be when they actually go through with it - despite EVERY PERSON ON THE PLANET thinking it's a bad idea.