And of course, there’s nothing geeky about using a homophone (words spelled differently, but sound the same – yes, your English teacher is ashamed you forgot) to “re-name” your brand…
In a move that will further embolden its critics who claim that Sci Fi is far more “Fi” than “Sci,” and sometimes not “Sci Fi” at all, the network has announced that it will be changing its official name from “Sci Fi” to SyFy – in order not to seem so geek-oriented. David Howe will make the announcement at a network upfront today in New York.
From TV Week:
“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,” said TV historian Tim Brooks, who helped launch Sci Fi Channel when he worked at USA Network.
Mr. Brooks said that when people who say they don’t like science fiction enjoy a film like “Star Wars,” they don’t think it’s science fiction; they think it’s a good movie.
“We spent a lot of time in the ’90s trying to distance the network from science fiction, which is largely why it’s called Sci Fi,” Mr. Brooks said. “It’s somewhat cooler and better than the name ‘Science Fiction.’ But even the name Sci Fi is limiting.”
Mr. Howe said going to Syfy will make a difference.
Though 2008 was the network’s best year ever, the network’s management had the feeling that the name was holding it back. 300 possibilities were considered before “SyFy” was selected. The changeover to the new name is slated to take place July 7th, in conjunction with the debut of the network’s new series, Warehouse 13.
March 16th, 2009 at 8:20 am
So in an attempt to avoid the use of a word that offends people who have too much time on their hands, the channel will be re-named to a word that means nothing.
Also, it was announced that “Trekkies” will now be known as “Tarkers” and fans of Firefly will be known as “Earthtonejackets”
March 16th, 2009 at 8:21 am
“300 possibilities were considered before “SyFy” was selected.”
Some of the other suggested titles were:
“The Green Hornet”
“The FBI in Peace and War”
“Renfrew of the Mounted”
Any questions?
March 16th, 2009 at 8:44 am
I always thought there was an opportunity for someone to start networks based on concepts that were abandoned by other networks. Like a channel that shows nothing but music videos, hosted by “video jockeys” or a station that shows nothing but old cartoons 24 hrs/day. or now, a channel showing science fiction shows and movies. that would be great.
March 16th, 2009 at 8:51 am
“SyFy” sounds like an electronics retailer in Manhattan.
March 16th, 2009 at 8:53 am
Laaaaaame.
March 16th, 2009 at 8:55 am
Syphilis TV
March 16th, 2009 at 9:05 am
Yes, it’s so much better to be seen as illiterate.
March 16th, 2009 at 9:06 am
Yeah, because that whole “geek” image just doesn’t sell these days.
March 16th, 2009 at 9:13 am
Sounds to me like a site called Syfy Portal that just changed their name last month to Airlock Alpha.
March 16th, 2009 at 9:26 am
Personally, I’m just finding myself less and less interested in the “Ashamed of Itself” channel. Oh well, as a science fiction fan I’m someone they’d already lost and apparently don’t want as a viewer.
March 16th, 2009 at 9:33 am
Maybe Imaginova bought them and plans to make them kewl.
March 16th, 2009 at 10:10 am
What’s so bad about this?
March 16th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
What’s so bad about this?”
If BET changed its name to “Great Entertainment Television”, or the Food Network changed its name to “The things to do Network” Or the WWE changed its name to “World Wide Entertainment”, would it be more clear?
They’re not trying to distance themselves from the word “SciFi”, they’re trying to distance themselves from Science Fiction. After founding a channel dedicated to a particular genre, they’ve realized/noticed/decided that the one genre doesn’t make them as much money as a channel that appeals to ALL genres could. So they start sneaking more non-Sci-Fi shows onto the channel, like Ghost Hunter and Crossing Over with John Edward (I always loved the irony of these shows running on a channel dedicated to science fiction – well, they’re half right). Then they add ECW, which they claim is their most watched show. So this strengthens the mindset that the way to attract more viewers is to do MORE non-sci-fi. Brooks’ quote is testament to this.
It’s the same puddingheaded mindset that has Jurassic Park 3 running on the CARTOON Network. If you don’t think your genre channel is attracting enough customers, then you close it down and try something else. You don’t staple fins out your parrots because fish are selling better.
March 16th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
Yeah so? What’s in name? If Caprica turns out to be as good as BSG I’m I going care that their name spelled differently?
Yes, I wish they didn’t have things like ECW or Ghost Hunters but as long as they have shows like Eureka, Stargate, Caprica and the like, I don’t care.
March 16th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
And if BET wanted to try and add more shows that appeal to Latin Americans, Asian-Americans, and other minority groups and wanted to change their name I would be all for it.
My only wish is that those shows would be good.
March 16th, 2009 at 1:58 pm
Personally, I don’t care what they call themselves, as long as their lineup consists of Grade D films, lame TV series and wrestling (wrestling????!!!!) then I’ll continue to bypass them on my dial.
If it wasn’t for their annual Twilight Zone marathon I have no incentive to watch their channel.
March 16th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
If it’s SyFy, it’s crap!
March 16th, 2009 at 6:04 pm
Fuck Sci-Fi, or “SyFy,” or whatever they want to call themselves (how about “SHITE-FY”?)…
Yeah, heaven forbid you have a channel that could be catering to an audience that no other channel really serves (token attempts by Spike and G4 aren’t enough, and now “SyFy” apparently plans to be as lame and generic as those two crap channels).
The popularity of sci-fi, fantasy and comic book films right now is pretty much at a fever pitch, so, hey, let’s try to move completely away from that! Genius!
So let’s see… BSG is ending, they took away the weekly LOST marathon (the show is now on late at night, just like the X-Files reruns, and in the late afternoon hours instead), and they load their lineup with crap like wrestling, those frauds who call themselves the Ghost Hunters, and of course their shitty original movies. Can we get a third season of “Who Wants To Be a Superhero?” while we’re at it? That was some quality stuff (sorry Stan). Let’s bring back that phony psychic John Edward too!
I agree with Richard that the annual Twilight Zone marathon might be the only reason left to watch that channel. I’d bet that, and their regular reruns of the show, will be gone soon too. I was hoping that they might pick up reruns of Deep Space Nine and give it a decent timeslot, now that Spike has apparently stopped running it, but I’m sure that won’t happen either.
Basically, if Sci-Fi/SyFy is ashamed of being associated with science fiction then they oughta get out of that business altogether. Considering what little quality they have to offer these days, they’d be doing us all a favor.
March 16th, 2009 at 7:31 pm
Nice to know that I don’t need to waste money on a channel that hates itself, hates its audience and thinks sci-fi fans are all asocial basement-dwelling losers, oh, and male.
I am a female business professional with a university degree. I do not live in anyone’s basement. I am a sci-fi fan. We come in all shapes, sizes, genders, professions and beliefs. By and large, we are proud to be science fiction fans. Most of us also proudly identify as geeks.
I haven’t been this insulted in a very long time. Self-loathing channel, take your stereotype assumptions, fold it into a tesseract, pick an orifice and shove it.
March 16th, 2009 at 8:52 pm
Well if I’m the audience they are trying to get away from, fine. I won’t watch.
March 16th, 2009 at 8:53 pm
Well said, girlfanfriday… Except I hope you aren’t calling ALL the men “asocial basement-dwelling losers.”
I don’t think you were, though I probably came as one in my earlier post (right above yours). Thanks for being more eloquent than I was.
March 17th, 2009 at 9:05 am
Triple Kudos to Friday girl, I could not have said it better my self.
March 17th, 2009 at 10:25 am
BTW, the most popular explanation so far is the name is an acronym for “So yeah, f*ck you”.
March 17th, 2009 at 12:31 pm
lol Nice one Vinnie! so once I watch the Battlestar Finale…I’m out…this is one basement dwelling geek who won’t feed the beast that mocks me….
March 18th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
Stupidest thing ever. They don’t like the name that brought their fanbase so they’re changing it to a name that still sounds like the name they don’t like. Oh, and on top of that let’s call the sci-fi community “geeks and dysfunctional, antisocial boys in their basements with video games and stuff like that” to get the lady demographic? Bye-bye, SciFi.