SCI FI Channel is Becoming Syfy

Brian in Mesa

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SCI FI Channel has announced that it is changing its name to Syfy on July 7th:

Building upon sixteen years of water cooler programming and soaring ratings growth following its most-watched year ever, SCI FI Channel is evolving into Syfy on air and on-line beginning July 7th, it was announced today by Dave Howe, President, SCI FI.

By changing the name to Syfy, which remains phonetically identical, the new brand broadens perceptions and embraces a wider and more diverse range of imagination-based entertainment including fantasy, paranormal, reality, mystery, action and adventure, as well as science fiction. It also positions the brand for future growth by creating an ownable trademark that can travel easily with consumers across new media and non-linear digital platforms, new international channels and extend into new business ventures.

Imagine Greater will become the new brand message and tagline, inviting both consumers and advertisers into a new era of unlimited imagination, exceptional experiences and greater entertainment. Syfy more clearly captures the mainstream appeal of the world's biggest entertainment category, and reflects the network's ongoing strategy to create programming that's more accessible and relatable to new audiences. Syfy will continue to celebrate the traditional roots of the genre, while opening the brand aperture to accommodate a broader range of imagination-based entertainment.

"While continuing to embrace our legacy and our core audience, we needed to cultivate a distinct point of view with a name that we could own that invites more people in and reflects our broader range of programming," said Mr. Howe in making the announcement. "Syfy allows us to build on our 16 year heritage of success with a new brand built on the power that fuels our genre: the Imagination. Syfy ushers in a new era of unlimited imagination, exceptional experiences and greater entertainment that paves the way for us to truly become a global lifestyle brand."

Syfy -- unlike the generic entertainment category "sci-fi" firmly establishes a uniquely ownable trademark that is portable across all non-linear digital platforms and beyond, from Hulu to iTunes. Syfy also creates an umbrella brand name that can extend into new adjacent businesses under the Syfy Ventures banner, such as Syfy Games, Syfy Films and Syfy Kids.

Additionally, as the Channel's footprint expands rapidly around the globe, aiming to reach more than 50 international channels by the end of next year, Syfy meets the need of a globally relevant, trademarkable brand that stands for something unique to the brand in each territory.

The new brand evolution will launch on air and on-line July 7th, in tandem with the premiere of the new scripted drama, Warehouse 13, and the return of breakout summer series Eureka. An aggressive trade marketing campaign will kick off this spring. Scifi.com will assume the URL Syfy.com at that time.
 

Gaddabout

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In related news, I'm changing my name from Matt to Mat. 500-word press release to follow soon to explain this exciting change.
 

Kel Varnsen

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I kinda like it.

SCI FI looks kinda like a generic category name, but Syfy is unique.

:thumbup:
 

Ryanwb

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Has anyone seen a Sci-Fi original movie? They are comically terrible with the worst special effects known to mankind
 

Zeno

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Has anyone seen a Sci-Fi original movie? They are comically terrible with the worst special effects known to mankind

I agree...terrible. Poor writing, poor acting and like you said terrible special effects. I can't say I've ever watched one all the way through but I've had 15-30 minute stretches that seemed to last a lifetime.
 

PortlandCardFan

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I do like the ones based on mythilogical creatures like, Manticore, Cerberus, Basilisk, etc...

They suck in so many ways but I always end up watching them...

Speaking of horrible sci-fi does anyone watch the Librarian movies with whats his name (Noah Wiley I think)?
 

SunsTzu

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Has anyone seen a Sci-Fi original movie? They are comically terrible with the worst special effects known to mankind

I'm convinced they are just paving the way for a new MST3K series.
 

BillsCarnage

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Companies usually change names when business is struggling.

Scifi movies aren't meant to be big budget hollywood movies. They're closer to B movies.
 

TBaslim

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I'll go contrary here - it's a dumb name and a pointless change - they are only doing it to allow them to trademark it.

The tagline is even stupider: 'Imagine Greater'? Simplified english in corporate marketing is one thing (ie, 'Just do it'), but how does mangled english enhance a brand?

Syfy - it's like a bad govt acronym. Or Leet-speak for a venereal disease. Ugh.
 

RON_IN_OC

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I agree...terrible. Poor writing, poor acting and like you said terrible special effects. I can't say I've ever watched one all the way through but I've had 15-30 minute stretches that seemed to last a lifetime.

Hey, without the Sci Fi channel and their "original" programming, Lou Diamond Phillips would be out of work. ;)
 

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