Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

starman · Mar 16, 2009, 10:20 AM

http://www.tvweek.com/blogs/tvbizwir...ol_as_syfy.php

Dakar V · Mar 16, 2009, 10:24 AM

How does SyFy sound or look less Sci-Fi?

starman · Mar 16, 2009, 10:25 AM

People can pronounce it "Siffee"

osiris · Mar 16, 2009, 10:26 AM

It's meant to be hip and hep, ya know - for the kids.

I think it's a dumbass move, but it's not my station.

ort888 · Mar 16, 2009, 10:39 AM

The SciFi channel is the biggest waste on cable. I love sci-fi, but that channel has poo-poo for programming.

Well, Poopoo, BattleStar Galactica, Dr. Who (I'm not into it, but some people are) and old Twilight Zone and X-Files reruns.

Dakar V · Mar 16, 2009, 10:44 AM

It's still better than half the channels out there.

shifuimam · Mar 16, 2009, 11:04 AM

Originally Posted by starman

People can pronounce it "Siffee"

That's no good. Boyfriend has got me in the habit of using "Shiffy" as the shortened form of my nick. Now everyone's going to confuse me with a cable TV channel.

ort888 · Mar 16, 2009, 11:39 AM

Originally Posted by shifuimam

That's no good. Boyfriend has got me in the habit of using "Shiffy" as the shortened form of my nick. Now everyone's going to confuse me with a cable TV channel.

These are difficult times for everyone.

goMac · Mar 16, 2009, 11:47 AM

: facepalm :

Mac User #001 · Mar 16, 2009, 11:47 AM

Stupid move for a good channel.

shifuimam · Mar 16, 2009, 11:49 AM

Originally Posted by ort888

These are difficult times for everyone.

You're telling me. My life is damn hard.

SpaceMonkey · Mar 16, 2009, 11:54 AM

Now they just need some great SyFy content!

LegendaryPinkOx · Mar 16, 2009, 12:06 PM

Ugh, Stop it!

turtle777 · Mar 16, 2009, 12:18 PM

Originally Posted by shiffy

Now everyone's going to confuse me with a cable TV channel.

Nah.

Until SyFy gets a piercing and puts on a swimsuit, we'll be able to know the difference.

-t

BlueSky · Mar 16, 2009, 12:22 PM

I hope this doesn't affect their penchant for producing half-ass mediocre crap, 'cause goshdarn I'd miss it.

BadKosh · Mar 16, 2009, 12:25 PM

relabeling themselves is pathetic...like the programming. It's like Liberals now re-branding themselves as "Progressive"

olePigeon · Mar 16, 2009, 12:26 PM

Maybe they'll pick up FyreFli. I hope.

LegendaryPinkOx · Mar 16, 2009, 12:29 PM

It makes me think of a juvenile taunt for someone with Syphilis.

osiris · Mar 16, 2009, 12:33 PM

SyFy makes me think about Sy Sperling's hair club for men
(sorry, wimmin ain't allowed)

Chuckit · Mar 16, 2009, 12:57 PM

It's to comply with truth-in-advertising regulations. Once Galactica ends, there won't be any legitimate sci-fi programming on the channel.

Dakar V · Mar 16, 2009, 01:03 PM

I'm looking forward to Python vs. Anaconda II.

SpaceMonkey · Mar 16, 2009, 01:28 PM

Originally Posted by Dakar V

I'm looking forward to Python vs. Anaconda II.

I would prefer something more along the lines of Centipede!. They can call the sequel "Centipedes!" or perhaps "Centipede! Again!"

andi*pandi · Mar 16, 2009, 01:33 PM

It's the economy. Changing their name will save them 1 whole letter. Imagine the bandwidth!

Or someone had some branding-earmarked money that was going to go to waste and scrambled to come up with something to use it for. Yay! Let's toss all our stationery and redo all our graphics!

SpaceMonkey · Mar 16, 2009, 01:45 PM

Actually, if you believe the article linked to in the blog entry posted above, the reason they went with SyFy is because someone in the coveted 18-35 demographic said that "this is how you’d text it," which made the network execs feel so hip and relevant that they wet their pants.

brassplayersrock² · Mar 16, 2009, 01:47 PM

whoever would text it like that is a dumb arse.

olePigeon · 01:54 PM

Originally Posted by SpaceMonkey

I would prefer something more along the lines of Centipede!. They can call the sequel "Centipedes!" or perhaps "Centipede! Again!"

How about Millipede.

Maflynn · Mar 16, 2009, 01:50 PM

Just lame, but then when that first added wrestling, they basically lost a viewer. What the heck did wrestling have to do with sci fi? It seems the powers that be, want move the network away from actual science fiction content to something else. What that something else is anyone's guess.

Dakar V · Mar 16, 2009, 01:51 PM

Yes, I forgot about the randomness of them carrying wrestling.

Honestly, it sound like they're trying to become a little more Spike.

ort888 · Mar 16, 2009, 01:54 PM

When will we finally get an ongoing Mansquito series?

olePigeon · Mar 16, 2009, 01:55 PM

They should re-air MST3K from start to finish.

SpaceMonkey · Mar 16, 2009, 01:57 PM

Originally Posted by olePigeon

How about Millipede.

That would be too obvious.

Chuckit · Mar 16, 2009, 01:58 PM

Originally Posted by Maflynn

Just lame, but then when that first added wrestling, they basically lost a viewer. What the heck did wrestling have to do with sci fi? It seems the powers that be, want move the network away from actual science fiction content to something else. What that something else is anyone's guess.

It's been that way for quite some time now. Back when Firefly was first canceled in 2002, Sci-Fi was one of the networks fans targeted to try to get it picked up. As I recall, the network wasn't interested because it was trying to move away from what it viewed as "hard sci-fi" shows like Firefly. That was around the same time they canceled Farscape.

osiris · Mar 16, 2009, 02:00 PM

Originally Posted by olePigeon

They should re-air MST3K from start to finish.

Great show!
I remember when The Comedy channel had MST3K on twice a day.

BadKosh · Mar 16, 2009, 02:07 PM

I've hated them ever since they took Dark Shadows off with 6 episodes to go til the end.

Mac User #001 · Mar 16, 2009, 06:40 PM

Originally Posted by Chuckit

It's to comply with truth-in-advertising regulations. Once Galactica ends, there won't be any legitimate sci-fi programming on the channel.

Until the Stargate Universe series starts up, but honestly, I'm not sure I like where its going. Or the cast. But we'll see.

Originally Posted by Dakar V

Yes, I forgot about the randomness of them carrying wrestling.

Honestly, it sound like they're trying to become a little more Spike.

Good point. They are headed that way. Who are they going to get to top Beth Ostrosky and her poker nights or whatever those were, though?

Rumor · Mar 16, 2009, 06:44 PM

Originally Posted by shifuimam

That's no good. Boyfriend has got me in the habit of using "Shiffy" as the shortened form of my nick. Now everyone's going to confuse me with a cable TV channel.

I would be more concerned with people thinking your nickname is Stiffy.

subego · Mar 16, 2009, 07:00 PM

Makes me think SyQuest.

You mean I can get 44 megabytes on this 6" disk? Sign me up!

I feel old.

Buckaroo · Mar 16, 2009, 07:49 PM

This reminds me of that Tech TV failure.

NeXTLoop · Mar 16, 2009, 09:56 PM

Yet another example of NBC's idiocy.

SSharon · Mar 17, 2009, 12:20 PM

I thought this thread was a joke until I saw the name change elsewhere. I'm still hoping it is all a big joke that I'm just not in on yet because this is the dumbest name change I have ever seen.

Using SyFy because people text it like that? Really? Their demographic doesn't have friends to text it to in the first place! Just kidding, but if anyone wants to do a case study on how to lose every last viewer in 60 days this is the case to look at.

Laminar · Mar 17, 2009, 12:44 PM

Woah...there sure seems to be a lot of buzz surrounding this "SyFy" channel. I believe I shall watch it and then buy the products it advertises.

Chuckit · Mar 17, 2009, 01:12 PM

Originally Posted by SSharon

Using SyFy because people text it like that? Really?

The worst part is that nobody texts like that. I think somebody was yanking their chain. "Oh, yeah, that would be so hip if you changed it to 'SyFy'. That's totally how I text it."

SSharon · Mar 17, 2009, 03:41 PM

Originally Posted by Chuckit

The worst part is that nobody texts like that. I think somebody was yanking their chain. "Oh, yeah, that would be so hip if you changed it to 'SyFy'. That's totally how I text it."

If they fall for stuff like this on a regular basis I would have a lot of fun working there. I could take office pranks to a whole new level.

ort888 · Mar 17, 2009, 03:43 PM

Apparently the real reason is that you can't properly trademark the term "sci-fi".

Chuckit · Mar 17, 2009, 03:51 PM

But you can trademark "Apple"?

ort888 · Mar 17, 2009, 04:00 PM

I dunno. Someone said it on another message board. I don't have a link.

It's a dumb name but who really cares.

SSharon · Mar 17, 2009, 04:23 PM

Originally Posted by Chuckit

But you can trademark "Apple"?

Aside from the fact there are different categories of trademarks, Apple has since gained secondary meaning.

I don't see why they can't trademark sci-fi channel or something, especially now that they have invested so much in the name.

Salty · Mar 17, 2009, 05:24 PM

Wow... at least in Canada we have Space... though in general that's a weird station... I pirate my TV now

BlueSky · Mar 19, 2009, 12:16 PM

25 Other Names the SciFi Channel Could Rebrand With

23. Well, At Least We Didn't Call It SyFy
24. The Mansquito And Proud Of It Channel

SpaceMonkey · Mar 19, 2009, 02:24 PM

Originally Posted by BlueSky

25 Other Names the SciFi Channel Could Rebrand With

Egh. I could practically hear "The Simpsons" Comic Book Guy voice in my head as I read that article.