35% off Dell's Most Popular LaptopsSci Fi Channel to become Syfy: Thank the lawyers?
In perhaps the most ill-advised branding move since New Coke, NBC's basic-cable Sci Fi Channel will be renamed the phonetically similar Syfy on July 7.
The change reportedly comes from a desire to own a trademark on the network's name. The term sci-fi is a generic description of a fiction genre (often featuring futuristic technology), while Syfy can be a unique brand.
Bonnie Hammer, president of NBC Universal Cable Entertainment, told The New York Times, "We couldn't own Sci Fi; it's a genre...but we can own Syfy."
The derisive hoots have already begun. Entertainment industry columnist Nikki Finke points out, "Adding to the idiocy is that there's already a company called SyFi Global, an information technology (specialist)." Meanwhile, Gawker says the network's new tagline, Imagine Greater, "means nothing and is grammatically incoherent."
New York native Dan Ackerman, a former radio DJ turned journalist, has written about technology and music for publications including Spin, Blender, The Hollywood Reporter, and USA Today. He hosts the weekly Digital City podcast and the New York edition of Editors' Office Hours. Dan's new album, Tales Out of Night School, is available now. E-mail Dan.
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Just one more time...Frack!
I wonder, does the new branding support the broadcasting of ECW on the network? I don't know that "Imagine Greater" really exemplifies what professional wrestling is all about.
yes, i agree.
Those Sci-Fi movies are the lamest things ever. They just keep producing corny, boring, low budget movies with horrible computer generated monsters. They're all basically the same monster movie but with different faces.
Worst. Movies. Ever. They haven't come out with anything worthwhile in years, and I stopped watching it.
Maybe because there's nothing else on the other channels either, so it gets watched by default.
Seriously, the cable channels need to get new some new programming--QUALITY programming. They simply refuse to pay for good movies/series, and the public has no choice but to lap it up.
I understand it's a ratings game, but I never understood how you could watch wrestling on a science fiction channel.
The history and discovery channels aren't any better, unfortunately, with lame reality shows taking over their line-up.
The "SyFy" channel has certainly lost it's way. I rarely watch it anymore and I am a huge science fiction fan. What does that tell you?
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That I'm not alone!
:-)
Here, google these:
"funnest ipod" site:www.tuaw.com
"funnest ipod" site:www.9to5mac.com
The bigger mystery is, how is it that some people can turn any topic, no matter how unrelated, into a sneering sideways jab at Apple?
I can only imagine what holidays must be like for your family "More turkey, efrdman?" "No, it's a little dry... maybe if you'd put an Apple logo on it, I wouldn't notice, because nobody ever notices when Apple makes a dry turkey."
The Sci-Fi channel started out with great potential. But it has deteriorated greatly since. Fans of "Sci-Fi", (the genre), are going to have to look else where for sci-fi content.
Here's a thought -- if they can't trademark "Sci-Fi", then maybe someone else can start a *new* Sci-Fi Channel. How could they sue? Think about it -- which would you tune into: The Sci-Fi Channel or The SyFy Channel?
Someone better trademark the token "wTHr" before the Weather Channel gets any equally stupid ideas.
SyFy : Acronym for "Simply Yawns. So, Eff You."
Maybe you're onto something here ...
;-)
But you're both right, I was one time excited to have the Sci-Fi channel but lately I find myself rarely watching it anymore. You can only take so much B-rated overgrown reptile movies with blonde bimbos running around. Don't get me wrong, those blonde bimbos were the highlights of the junk called a "movie", but you can feel your brains deteriorating while watching. Ghost hunters and wrestling? How is that garbage "sci-fi"? What about Star Trek, Star Wars, The Black Hole, Event Horizon, 2001/2010, iRobot, Babylon 5, Battle Star Galactica, Stargate, Farscape - you know, SCIENCE FICTION?
I miss Sci-Fi.
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by gsigas
March 16, 2009 11:10 AM PDT
- I guess it makes sense if the channel is trying to move beyond science fiction. In the end what really matters is their programming, not their name.
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by Dalkorian
March 17, 2009 9:14 AM PDT
- Right - and their programming has sucked donkey for years now.
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Showing 1 of 4 pages (120 Comments)I miss Sci-Fi.