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Syfy, officially pronounced "Sci Fi" and formerly known as the Sci Fi Channel, is an American cable television channel launched on September 24, 1992, that specializes in science fiction, fantasy, horror, and paranormal programming. It is part of the entertainment conglomerate NBC Universal. The name Syfy was officially adopted on July 7, 2009.

History

The Sci-Fi Channel was launched on September 24, 1992 by USA Networks, then a joint venture between Paramount Pictures and Universal Studios. Before the acquisition, network programming included the 1960s television series Dark Shadows, the film serial Flash Gordon, and other science fiction movies and series.

The channel was seen as a natural fit with classic film and television series that both studios had in their vaults, including Rod Serling's Night Gallery (from Universal TV) and Paramount's Star Trek and classic Universal horror films such as Dracula and Frankenstein. Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry and author Isaac Asimov were among those on the advisory board.

In 1994, Paramount was sold to Viacom, followed by Seagram's purchase of a controlling stake in MCA (which Universal was a subsidiary of) from Matsushita the next year. In 1997, Seagram purchased Viacom's interest in USA and Sci Fi, and sold the networks to Barry Diller in 1998 to form USA Networks, Inc. Diller later sold USA's non-shopping (film and TV) assets, including Sci-Fi, to Universal's then-parent Vivendi Universal in 2002. Vivendi's film, television, and cable TV assets were then merged with General Electric's NBC to form NBC Universal in 2004. A high definition version of the channel launched on October 3, 2007 on DirecTV.

On March 16, 2009, Sci Fi announced that it would be changing its name to Syfy, to end confusion over how to capitalize and stylize their name and as part of an effort to rebrand the channel as offering "imagination-based entertainment" (including science fiction but also fantasy, the paranormal, adventure and others). Network officials also noted that, unlike the generic term "sci fi" which represents the entire science fiction genre, the term "Syfy" can be protected by trademark and therefore would be easier to market on other goods or services without fear of confusion with other companies' products. The only significant previous use of the term "Syfy" in relation to science fiction was by the website Syfy Portal, which became Airlock Alpha after selling the brand to NBC Universal (represented by a shell company) in February. The new name took effect on July 7, 2009. Reaction to the new name has been largely negative within the cult community.

Programming

Syfy's programming includes original television movies, miniseries, and series. In the past, the channel has also aired many canceled cult classic science fiction TV shows. It gained national prominence in 2003 with the airing of Steven Spielberg Presents: Taken, which won the Emmy Award that year for best miniseries. In 2006, it also began including several non-sci-fi programs in its line-up, such as Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, World Wrestling Entertainment's ECW and WCG Ultimate Gamer.

Syfy has aired anime programming off and on throughout its history. It first began airing English dubbed anime films and original video animations, in the early 1990s, although the programs were often edited in order to fit the market pressures typically placed on basic cable. It was the first to show the Streamline Pictures English dubs of the films Robot Carnival, Lensman, and Akira, as well as airing Central Park Media's Dominion: Tank Police, Gall Force, and Project A-ko. Eventually the channel stopped airing anime, until June 11, 2007, when it began airing a weekly 2-hour programming block called "Ani-Monday". Intended to directly compete with Cartoon Network's Adult Swim, the block features English dubs of various anime series licensed by Manga Entertainment. During February 2008, the channel also aired anime on Tuesday nights in a second programming block. In July 2009, Syfy announced that they had renewed and expanded their licensing agreement with Manga Entertainment to continue the "Ani-Monday" block, as well as to add a similar two-hour block of horror anime, also called "Ani-Monday", to their sister channel Chiller.

Sci Fi Pictures original films

Developed by Chris Regina, Ray Cannella and Thomas Vitale, Sci Fi Pictures original films are typically independently-made B-movies with production budgets of $1 to 2 million a piece. They usually premiere on Saturday nights. They are also one of the sponsors for the Coalition for Freedom of Information. These films are occasionally retitled for their DVD releases.

Media

Website

The channel's website launched in 1995 under the name "The Dominion" at SciFi.com. In 2000, it dropped the name "The Dominion.". It was one of the first large-scale, publicly available, well-advertised, and non-portal based Web sites. In addition to information on the channel's programming, it covers science fiction in general. The site has won a Webby Award and a Flash Forward Award. From 2000–2005, it published original science fiction short stories in a section called "SciFiction", edited by Ellen Datlow, who won a 2005 Hugo Award for her work there. The stories themselves won a World Fantasy Award; the first Theodore Sturgeon Award for online fiction (for Lucius Shepard's novella "Over Yonder"), and four of the Science Fiction Writers of America's Nebula Awards, including the first for original online fiction (for Linda Nagata's novella "Goddesses"). As part of the channel's rebranding in 2009, the URL was changed to Syfy.com.

On April 22, 2006, the site launched Sci Fi Pedia as a commercial wiki on topics including anime, comics, science fiction, fantasy, horror, fandom, games and toys, UFOs, genre-related art and audio, and the paranormal. In 2009, Sci Fi Pedia was shut down without explanation.

Science Fiction Weekly

Science Fiction Weekly was an online magazine started and edited by Craig Engler and Brooks Peck on August 15, 1995. In April 1996 it began appearing exclusively on "The Dominion" as part of a partnership with the site, before being sold to the Sci Fi Channel completely in 1999. The publication covered various aspects of science fiction, including news, reviews, original art, and interviews, until it merged with Sci Fi Wire in January 2009. It was last edited by Scott Edelman.

Sci Fi Magazine

Sci Fi Magazine is the channel's official magazine. As of 2005, it was edited by Scott Edelman.

Sci Fi Wire

Sci Fi Wire, an adjunct of the Syfy website, is the daily news wire edited by Patrick Lee. It covers news related to science fiction, fantasy and supernatural-themed entertainment, including films, television, games, books, fandom and rumors. Sci Fi Wire is frequently cited as a source of breaking news by other Web sites and by publications as varied as the New York Post and TV Guide.

Ratings

In 2008, Syfy, then the Sci Fi Channel, averaged a 1.0 Household rating; 242,000 Adults 18-34 (up 4% vs 2007); 616,000 Adults 18-49 (up 5% vs 2007); 695,000 Adults 25-54 (up 6% vs 2007) and 1,278,000 total viewers (up 7% vs 2007). It saw two years of consecutive growth among female audiences, with a 12% increase among women 25-54, a 14% jump in women 18-49 and 6% in women 18-34. The channel also was ranked among the top ten watched channels for male viewers ages 18–54, and women ages 25–54 (#10).

See Also

• Sci Fi Channel - List of Sci Fi Channels around the world.

References

1. Carter, Bill (September 28, 1992). "Will There Be Any Space For Outer Space on Cable?". The New York Times. Retrieved July 7, 2009.
2. Carter, Bill (March 31, 1992). "Television Notes; NBC Tries Again With a News-Magazine Format". The New York Times. Retrieved July 7, 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
3. "A Channel for Science Fiction". Omni. 1992. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
4. Swann, Phillip (October 3, 2007). "DIRECTV Adds Six HD Channels". TVPredictions.com. Retrieved July 7, 2009.
5. Hinman, Michael (March 15, 2009). "SciFi Channel Changes Name ... To Syfy". Airlock Alpha. Retrieved July 7, 2009.
6. Elliot, Stuart (March 15, 2009). "Sci Fi Channel Has a New Name: Now, It's Syfy". The New York Times. Retrieved July 7, 2009.
7. Wheaton, Ken (March 17,). "Should We Start a Syfy Death Watch?". Advertising Age. Retrieved July 7, 2009. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
8. Schneider, Michael (March 20, 2009). "TV rebranding a tricky proposition". Variety. Retrieved July 7, 2009.
9. Stropoli, Rebecca (May 25, 2006). "Sci Fi Gets Itself in a Headlock". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved July 7, 2009.
10. ^ "Sci Fi Channel Launches Monday Night Anime Block". Anime News Network. May 5, 2007. Retrieved July 7, 2009.
11. "America's Sci Fi Channel Adds Anime on Tuesdays". Anime News Network. January 3, 2008. Retrieved July 7, 2009.
12. Beveridge, Chris (July 15, 2009). "Syfy, Chiller Take On More Anime". Mania Entertainment. Retrieved July 15, 2009.
13. Wolf, Gary (2004). "We've Created a Monster!". Wired. 12 (10). Retrieved July 7, 2009. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
14. "SCI FI CHANNEL CHALLENGES GOVERNMENT SECRECY" (Press release). Coalition for Freedom of Information. Retrieved 10/07/2009. {{cite press release}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |Date= ignored (|date= suggested) (help)
15. "Sci Fi Has Its Finger On The 'Pulse'" (Press release). The Futon Critic, Sci Fi Channel. April 26, 2006. Retrieved July 7, 2009.
16. "Sci Fi's Craig Engler Promoted To SVP & GM, Sci Fi Digital". VFXWorld. March 13, 2009. Retrieved July 7, 2009.
17. "Sci Fi Has Best year Ever! #5 in Adults 25 - 54" (Press release). The Futon Critic, Sci Fi Channel. December 17, 2008. Retrieved July 7, 2009.

External links

• Official website
• Template:Imdb company
• Sci Fi charts its course for the future, Los Angeles Times - Interview with Dave Howe

• NBC Universal networks
• Syfy
• Television channels and stations established in 1992
• Science fiction television channels
• Former Viacom subsidiaries