SCI FI Channel to become SyFy

[Geekyfanboy]

SCI FI Channel is Becoming Syfy
Source: Syfy
March 16, 2009

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.

[Rico]

In a related story, a popular podcast is changing it's name to, "TREKS in SYFY"      :roflmao

[billybob476]

LOL.

Or maybe Treks in Marketing?

[Ktrek]

Can a leopard change it's spots? You can rename the network but it's problems will remain. 90% of it's programming is unwatchable imho.

Kevin

[M-5]

Can a leopard change it's spots? You can rename the network but it's problems will remain. 90% of it's programming is unwatchable imho.

Kevin

Ain't that the truth.

[batmite]

This is just goofy.

[Rico]

Can a leopard change it's spots? You can rename the network but it's problems will remain. 90% of it's programming is unwatchable imho.

Kevin

Perhaps.  But that 10% is some of the best stuff on the air.

[moyer777]

Perhaps.  But that 10% is some of the best stuff on the air.

eye uhgree.

[sheldor]

SCI FI Channel is Becoming Syfy
Source: Syfy
March 16, 2009

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.

From the people who brought us Mansquito, Frankenfish, Ice Spiders, SS Stormtrooper and many, MANY more :(
Can someone say wackadoodle?

Yes, I will also agree they a few of the best shows on air.

[wraith1701]

SCI FI Channel to become SyFy

"SyFy"?  That's just plain sylly!  ;)

[Bromptonboy]

How about "New Sci-Fi".......then after a year they can rename it to "Sci-fi Classic".   What a silly marketing idea.  They should devote all thier effort into finding some replacements for BSG, and improving programming.

[Jen]

As someone who works in a marketing department, and deals everyday with branding and corporate identity, I understand why they did this. But it's still STUPID. They're only hoping that potential viewers will stumble onto their channel and stay... the word "SyFy" doesn't look as scary as "SciFi" to the non-geek. It's a bait and switch scenario.

I agree, they need to find another show on par with BSG .

[Darth Gaos]

Whatever.....It's nice to see that even in a down economy someone can justify keeping their job by coming up with this brilliant idea ::)

That said I do enjoy alot of the shows on SI-PHI.....just NONE of the movies.

[KingIsaacLinksr]

Wow...SyFy...next thing you know Discovery Channel will be Disc-cover-ee and...and....ahh forget it.  Can't think of a good joke. 

All I have to say is, I know why they did this, but as said before, 90% of their crap is unwatchable.  Why don't we get around to fixing that rather than your darn name?

King

[Feathers]

Hmmm. What was wrong with XiPhi then?