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Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :
 
Sci-fi to become Syfy because:

quote:
...the name “Syfy” is less geeky than the name “Sci Fi.”
Words fail me.

Oh, wait-- no they don't.
 
Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :
 
Maybe if the network had truly been dedicated to science fiction in the first place I would have cared. So much potential in the channel premise, piss poor execution.
 
Posted by scifibum (Member # 7625) on :
 
Oh, flipping heck.

I could understand changing to "The Imagine Network" or something, but this? It smacks of political compromise. Someone figured out the name might be too geeky, someone else decided the brand couldn't be sacrificed, so instead of Reese's Peanut Butter cups they come out with Pork Gummies.
 
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
 
Well, begin one of the people who they scoff at, I can honestly say they just managed to distance themselves from me, that's for sure.
 
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
 
*LAUGH*

Aw, I wish them well. I will forgive them if they show Doctor Who the same night as the BBC. If they do that, they can call it whatever they want.
 
Posted by kmbboots (Member # 8576) on :
 
It does, somehow, sound girlier. "SciFi" is a logo in black and silver; "Syfy" is in pink and purple. With swirls. And rainbows.
 
Posted by Shigosei (Member # 3831) on :
 
quote:
“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.
Way to alienate your audience! And if you want to attract women, why on earth would you cancel Stargate?
 
Posted by scifibum (Member # 7625) on :
 
I don't think Tim works for the network any more, so he probably doesn't have a stake in the audience. He's just making explicit what's implicit in the network's desire to broaden its appeal.
 
Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :
 
quote:
It does, somehow, sound girlier. "SciFi" is a logo in black and silver; "Syfy" is in pink and purple. With swirls. And rainbows.
Sigh-fi.

"Twilight", in other words.
 
Posted by CaySedai (Member # 6459) on :
 
I thoroughly enjoyed reading the comments below the article. I laughed so much I cried (not just at the name change).
 
Posted by SenojRetep (Member # 8614) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Scott R:
Sigh-fi.

"Twilight", in other words.

I'm trying to decide if I like that better, or this
quote:
Originally posted by Scott on Lord of All Fools (link in OP):
Syfy? It sounds like a teenage girl’s attempt at being all mystical. “I’m Tam’y, wytch of the wood! Scoff at my magyck at your peryl!”


 
Posted by ricree101 (Member # 7749) on :
 
Meh, Galactica will be done soon anyways. After that, they're free to do whatever they want with their network.
 
Posted by Achilles (Member # 7741) on :
 
Responded on Sakeriver. [Razz]
 
Posted by Eaquae Legit (Member # 3063) on :
 
In my head, it's pronounced "siffy." It's not working for me.
 
Posted by Joldo (Member # 6991) on :
 
I've yet to encounter anything on Sci Fi channel that suggests they'll ever have broad audience appeal. Heck, they've done little enough even to attract the geeks.
 
Posted by Chris Bridges (Member # 1138) on :
 
So naturally, I had to comment with my reasons why we should embrace the new name:

quote:
4. Insulting your core audience is a proven method of increasing market share, as evidenced by the incredible success of Animal Planet's new Let's Euthanize Fido! and the Lifetime Network's hit show, Stop Crying and Suck It Up, Geez.

5. Manipulating your mind into thinking something is new when it really isn't... hey, if that isn't science fiction I don't know what is.


 
Posted by Achilles (Member # 7741) on :
 
[Big Grin]
 
Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
 
They would do better with their female audience if they didn't show such crap.

Also, they should hire me. I am neither antisocial, basement dwelling nor male and I love science fiction to pieces.
 
Posted by JennaDean (Member # 8816) on :
 
Well, at least "Syfy" is more honest. Like spelling "imitation krab meat" with a K because it's really not crab at all.

Surely women will now flock to the station that shows things like "Tremors", because it has Y's in its name. Y's are so feminine and impressive.

I only ever watch one show on SciFi, and it certainly wasn't an "original SciFi series". As long as they keep airing Doctor Who, I'm not going away. Not likely to watch it more, though.
 
Posted by Bella Bee (Member # 7027) on :
 
I don't know why they think it's girlier. Maybe they think girls can't spell?

It certainly is lolcattier.

*Imagine a cute cylon here*
i maed u som syfy, but i eated it
 
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
 
[ROFL]

Wow. That li'l screed was way more entertaining than any of their SciFi original movies. [Big Grin]

The thing about SciFi is, its regimes are very prone to change. One year they're trying so hard to save MST3K. Then, those people leave and the new people do everything in their power to kill it.

We'll see how long this guy's vision lasts.
 
Posted by The Pixiest (Member # 1863) on :
 
It's easier to google this way.

If you google "sci fi" You'll get a gazillion hits.

If you google "syfy" (theoretically) you should only get Syfy.

'course.. you COULD just google "Mansquito"...
 
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Joldo:
I've yet to encounter anything on Sci Fi channel that suggests they'll ever have broad audience appeal. Heck, they've done little enough even to attract the geeks.

Tell me about it. Remember their attempt to do a comic book fandom show, years ago? It was a bunch of bug-eyed kids holding copies of Gen-13 and X-Men up to the camera (literally) and talking about how "cool" the art is. [Roll Eyes]
 
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Chris Bridges:
So naturally, I had to comment with my reasons why we should embrace the new name

quote:
3. Syfy is way easier to twitter.
*choke*

*sputter*

[ROFL]

You owe me a new monitor. [Razz]
 
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
 
quote:
It's easier to google this way.
The instant I saw the name change, this was my thought. For all their "we're rebranding" crap, I am 100% certain that this is the real reason.
 
Posted by scifibum (Member # 7625) on :
 
I'm not at all convinced. The official website is the first Google hit for both "sci fi" and "scifi".
 
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
 
Of course you would know. [Smile]
 
Posted by Sean Monahan (Member # 9334) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Eaquae Legit:
In my head, it's pronounced "siffy." It's not working for me.

Same here.

If they wanted to be accurate, they'd change their name to the "Second-Rate Horror / Fantasy Channel".
 
Posted by Samprimary (Member # 8561) on :
 
It would matter little if they were dedicated to science fiction tv exclusively, because so much of what's written and produced as science fiction is really, really bad.

Expanding their genres was their attempt — whether or not you could call it a 'successful' one — to avoid the pitfall of how, really, so much of science fiction is crap, in the process, perhaps raising the general appeal and quality of the network's content.

ehh.
 
Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :
 
quote:
The network worked with the branding consultancy Landor Associates and went through about 300 possibilities before selecting Syfy.

“When we tested this new name, the thing that we got back from our 18-to-34 techno-savvy crowd, which is quite a lot of our audience, is actually this is how you’d text it,” Mr. Howe said. “It made us feel much cooler, much more cutting-edge, much more hip, which was kind of bang-on what we wanted to achieve communication-wise.”

So...they rag on geeks...but then go to geeks for what's "hip."

Whence these flowers, Algernon?

This is like that poor dork in High School who thought that by putting on a leather jacket and shades, he could chill with the jocks. But the leather jacket he brought has hippie-era fringes, and the shades are Catwoman glasses.

Who would text "syfy" rather than "SF?"
 
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Scott R:
Who would text "syfy" rather than "SF?"

Sylvester Fyverson, esquire?
 
Posted by Mocke (Member # 11963) on :
 
You know, if they just bought rights to older decent scifi movies and series, supplemented it with their own TV shows (many of which are good), and STOPPED MAKING MOVIES, they would be set.
Seriously. I clap with glee everytime I see a scifi original program, and die a little inside when I see the original movie.
Although, some movies are really good for the MST3K effect. My friend and I were rolling at the sorority horror movie with the giant killer bugs. Especially the scene with the blender (snicker).
 
Posted by Samprimary (Member # 8561) on :
 
quote:
and STOPPED MAKING MOVIES
but but


MANSQUITO
 
Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :
 
What I think is especially annoying about this move is that, to the general television viewing public (that is, mostly everyone), the Sci Fi channel represents what science fiction is about. For the past 15 years, they've pushed mediocre-at-best programming toward the consumer under the name science fiction; they've been the genre's vanguard for the public.

And they've misrepresented the genre terribly. Someone mentioned that Sci Fi isn't so much interested in good science, or good fiction; they seem to be interested in telling tales of cheap horror and superstition. To hear them badmouth the genre after practically creating the public perception they're lamenting is...well, it takes a level of obliviousness and gumption that is truly phenomenal.
 
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
 
To be fair, SF has had a bad reputation for far longer than the SciFi channel has been in existence.
 
Posted by Traceria (Member # 11820) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Shigosei:
And if you want to attract women, why on earth would you cancel Stargate?

Amen to that.

quote:
Originally posted by Scott R:
Who would text "syfy" rather than "SF?"

Who texts sci fi at all (however you want to spell or abbrievate it)?
 
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
 
quote:
Whence these flowers, Algernon?
Heh. [Smile]
 
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Traceria:
quote:
Originally posted by Shigosei: And if you want to attract women, why on earth would you cancel Stargate?

Amen to that.
:: nod ::

I know that when I cancelled Stargate, my dating life went straight into the toilet.
 
Posted by Traceria (Member # 11820) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Noemon:
quote:
Originally posted by Traceria:
quote:
Originally posted by Shigosei:
[qb] And if you want to attract women, why on earth would you cancel Stargate?

Amen to that.
:: nod ::

I know that when I cancelled Stargate, my dating life went straight into the toilet.

*chuckles* When I met my boyfriend's parents, we stayed up when they went to bed in order to watch Doctor Who. The next morning his dad said to him, "Wow, [boyfriend's name], God must be really looking out for you. Not only did he send you this beautiful girl but she likes sci fi, too!" His dad is an avid Stargate fan, btw.
 
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
 
What does Stargate have to do with attracting women? I mean, I really enjoy Robert Picardo, but he's not that hot.
 
Posted by The Pixiest (Member # 1863) on :
 
mph: You're a woman now?

...

I like the pronunciation of "Siffy." Or maybe I'll just start calling it the Syphilis channel.
 
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
 
No. I am not a woman now.
 
Posted by Xaposert (Member # 1612) on :
 
quote:
So...they rag on geeks...but then go to geeks for what's "hip."

Whence these flowers, Algernon?

This is like that poor dork in High School who thought that by putting on a leather jacket and shades, he could chill with the jocks. But the leather jacket he brought has hippie-era fringes, and the shades are Catwoman glasses.

Exactly.

"SyFy" is not going to attract girls to watch. They should've changed the name to McLovin'.
 
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by mr_porteiro_head:
No. I am not a woman now.

Qualifier noted.
 
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
 
Yup. I needed to make it clear that I was only speaking for myself, not for you.
 
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
 
Since I've never been a woman, you mean?
 
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
 
No, that is not what I mean.
 
Posted by syfybum (Member # 11994) on :
 
I reconsidered and actually I like the new name.
 
Posted by Sterling (Member # 8096) on :
 
Wut duz syfy xtand pher?
 
Posted by Nighthawk (Member # 4176) on :
 
I think they should have renamed it to "Psi Phi".
 
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by mr_porteiro_head:
Yup. I needed to make it clear that I was only speaking for myself, not for you.

LOL
 
Posted by Jeorge (Member # 11524) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Nighthawk:
I think they should have renamed it to "Psi Phi".

I think that's even more geeky, not less.

I like it. [Smile]
 
Posted by adenam (Member # 11902) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by syfybum:
I reconsidered and actually I like the new name.

Glad to see at least someone is embracing the change.
 
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
 
This is just truth in advertising. They're not showing actual sci-fi, so they want to make that clear.
 
Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by mr_porteiro_head:
No, that is not what I mean.

Whereas you may have been a woman in the past or may yet become a woman in the future you however are not a woman now?

Are we getting warm?
 
Posted by scifibum (Member # 7625) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by syfybum:
I reconsidered and actually I like the new name.

HOW DARE YOU.

And:

Identity theft is a federal crime.

And:

That's way more likely to create a mental association with anatomy than my name.

And:

HOW DARE YOU.
 
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
 
Talking to yourself again? They've got treatments for that now.
 
Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Hatrack: You should talk Porter!
All sorts of crazy going on around here.

[ March 18, 2009, 12:04 AM: Message edited by: BlackBlade ]
 
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
 
If anyone wants to contact them and tell them what idiots they are to a) rebrand themselves to appeal to 13 year old girls while alienating their intelligent audience members and b) insult said audience members in their announcement about why they're doing so, or about the general idiocy of whoever selects their programming schedule lately, someone on another board posted the following contact info:

quote:
Jeff Zucker
CEO of NBC/Universal
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10112
CORPORATE PHONE: (212) 664-4444

Dave Howe
President
NBC Universal - Sci Fi Channel
30 Rockefeller Plaza, 21st Floor
New York, NY 10112
Dave.howe@nbcuni.com

feedback@scifi.com

FAX: 212-413-6509


 
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
 
Why would they want to hear from who they already assume to be antisocial geeks living in our parent's basement?
 
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
 
I don't know, if enough of us antisocial geeks call or write they might get scared that we're going to use our mad math and science skillz to infest their houses with termites or something.

I just thought it might be more productive than scoffing at what idiots they are behind their backs to tell them to their faces.
 
Posted by Sterling (Member # 8096) on :
 
...Because even antisocial geeks attract sponsors?...
 
Posted by CaySedai (Member # 6459) on :
 
I actually have a 13-year-old girl living in my house and she thinks the name change is a stupid idea. As do I (48), my sister (44), and my niece (23). I haven't discussed it with my 15-year-old daughter yet. But we're all female scifi geeks in a wide range of ages.
 
Posted by syfybum (Member # 11994) on :
 
quote:
HOW DARE YOU.
It took very little daring.

But, for what it's worth, if I knew how to e-mail you, I'd send you the password to this account so you could stop worrying about ID theft.
 
Posted by scifibum (Member # 7625) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by syfybum:
quote:
HOW DARE YOU.
It took very little daring.

But, for what it's worth, if I knew how to e-mail you, I'd send you the password to this account so you could stop worrying about ID theft.

S'ok. Was just joking.

(Help, I'm reassuring myself.)
 
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by CaySedai:
I actually have a 13-year-old girl living in my house and she thinks the name change is a stupid idea. As do I (48), my sister (44), and my niece (23). I haven't discussed it with my 15-year-old daughter yet. But we're all female scifi geeks in a wide range of ages.

Yeah, I think the people who will find this name change "cool" will not be related to anyone on this forum because we tend to have a median intelligence higher than "below average" here...
 
Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
 
The whole thing is exceedingly amusing. They have to lower the intelligence of the channel to get away from being geeky.

It is a backhanded complement, really.
 
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
 
But remember: Liking science fiction means that you're an anti-social loser!

Good people watch good, non-genre reality shows. You know, like Temptation Island.
 
Posted by caliban (Member # 11698) on :
 
[Eek!] Oh well, I'm pretty sure the 'syfy' channel only has two more hours of interest anyway.
 
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Puffy Treat:
But remember: Liking science fiction means that you're an anti-social loser!

Good people watch good, non-genre reality shows. You know, like Temptation Island.

Yes master. I understand master.

I love that the guy implied that HUMANS are not interested in sci-fi. Like, you know, we're not human.
 
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
 
Personally, I'm a Dalek.

EXTERMINATE!
 
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by syfybum:
quote:
HOW DARE YOU.
It took very little daring.

It was pretty funny, though. As was scifibum's response.
 
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
 
quote:
You should talk Porter!
So should we all.
 
Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
 
A somewhat relevant link.
 
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Puffy Treat:
Personally, I'm a Dalek.

EXTERMINATE!

I knew it! [Eek!] [Eek!] [Eek!]
 
Posted by theamazeeaz (Member # 6970) on :
 
This sounds like an April Fools' joke news two weeks early.
 
Posted by Alcon (Member # 6645) on :
 
Somebody get a baseball bat and beat David Howe over the head.

Let's take over Sci-Fi's studio. We'll bring the DVD collections of our favorite Science Fiction/Fantasy shows past and just run those reruns all day for a week or two. Screw buying the rights and all that crap. The publicity from us invading the studio alone would guarantee more viewers, and when they saw the reruns of the many good science fiction shows of the past they'd want to stay. Then when we were finally lead away in hand cuffs we could point out the numbers to the studio execs. Our sacrifice would be worth it if they'd learn a) what good science fiction television is and b) that it is perfectly capable of supporting a profitable network.

My list of shows past would include:

Stargate SG1
Firefly (duh)
Babylon 5
All the old Star Treks minus Enterprise
Buffy (it's fantasy)
Angel (also fantasy)
Farscape
Dr. Who (there's so much old Dr Who that could be rerun!)
Rerun (new) BSG and maybe old BSG just for laughs
Continue New Doctor Who
Rerun the old Dune miniseries - and make more like it!

Then come up with new good programs along the lines of Dr Who and BSG!

Also they missed the boat in not getting Terminator and Dollhouse. After BSG ends Fox will have better Sci-Fi than Sci-Fi. And that just shouldn't happen.
 
Posted by Sala (Member # 8980) on :
 
This really made me laugh, though considering how I pronounced it the first time I saw it, I'm surprised I didn't make the leap to this conclusion myself. Polish meaning of new name embarrasses syfy.
 
Posted by Sala (Member # 8980) on :
 
Hehehe, I've been here for more than three years, and lurked for three years before that, and I'm finally approaching my 100th post. I'd say it's about time! Especially considering that I check in here at least every other day, if not on most days. I'm shy.
 
Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :
 
Don't quote Sala or you might catch teh Syfy!
 
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Sala:
This really made me laugh, though considering how I pronounced it the first time I saw it, I'm surprised I didn't make the leap to this conclusion myself. Polish meaning of new name embarrasses syfy.

How apt.
 
Posted by scifibum (Member # 7625) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by adenam:
TÖRdötCÖM

It spreads.
 
Posted by Alcon (Member # 6645) on :
 
Why didn't that post bump this thread to the front page?
 
Posted by kmbboots (Member # 8576) on :
 
That is pretty funny.
 
Posted by scifibum (Member # 7625) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Alcon:
Why didn't that post bump this thread to the front page?

I was trying to figure that out. No idea.
 
Posted by CaySedai (Member # 6459) on :
 
Another one (notice date)

I needed a laugh. ;-)
 


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