TV News: Sci-Fi Channel to Rename Itself Syfy?
The NBC Universal-owned cable network, The Sci Fi Channel will become “Syfy” starting in July.
The re-branding comes as a way for the studio to tweak its brand perception among TV viewers who associate the name Sci-Fi with aliens and Trekkies.
“We love being sci fi and we’re still embracing that,” said network president Dave Howe on Friday. “But we’re more than just space and aliens and the future – the three things most people think of when they think of ‘sci fi.’
“What this does is hopefully give us the best of both worlds,” Howe said. “You keep the heritage, but also open up to a broader range of content.”
The network plans to unveil the new branding this summer along with the premiere of its newest show, Warehouse 13 about two FBI agents who hunt down paranormal objects. Accompanying the name change is a new 3D logo.
“It was so critical to design this in a way that it felt warmer, friendlier, more fun,” said Michael Engleman, Sci-Fi’s senior VP-creative. “We really wanted to infuse the mark with the same thing we infuse our communication with: fun, whimsy and imagination.”
Next year’s Caprica is more of a ” terrestrial-based drama” than an “outer-space adventure” like its predecessor, Battlestar Galactica, so that is supposed to support this brand expansion as well, which is an effort that really began on the programming side a few years ago with the launch of the quirky drama, Eureka.
Having generic name was also cited as the method behind changing the name. The article mentions that businesses have discovered that having a strange or misspelled name (such as Digg or Fark) is “more preferable to having a familiar name that could be confused with something else.” Its all about Search-Engine Optimization to them which so the quirkier the name the easier to pick up on a Google Search.
Will the website be syfy.com after the change? Only time will tell friends.
What do YOU think?
Sources: THR , Sci Fi Wire, and Ad Age
Categories: TV News
About the Author
Justin Vactor has traveled far and wide, living in places like Europe, Hawaii, Korea, Japan, and Arizona. He currently resides in Phoenix, AZ where he is a an avid Gamer, Podcaster, New Media Enthusiast, Comic Book lover, Film whore and Television addict. He Co-Hosts both the Entertainment Overload and Geekland podcasts. Justin loves great story-telling and getting lost in the fantastic worlds of comic books, television and film, making him a great contributing addition to Fused Film.
View Comments to TV News: Sci-Fi Channel to Rename Itself Syfy?
by scifi fan
On June 20, 2009 at 11:00 pm
This is what you get with bored, self indulgent, high paid management. STUPID STUPID STUPID STUPID STUPID. Did I say stupid. Sci Fi sounds, and is cool. SyFy sounds fkn STUPID. Whom ever made this decision at SCI FI should be fired immediately and this STUPID campaign stopped in it’s tracks.
by Pat Comerford
On April 16, 2010 at 7:18 pm
Wow! Teaching people to be illiterate has become acceptable in the name of branding. Sad, misguded and mistaken. Now they are going to have to try even harder to find quality material that can overcome the twee stupidity of their new name…why, why why? Someone with new responsibility in the organisation must have felt the need to urinate all over it so that thay can make their mark…
by Pat Comerford
On April 16, 2010 at 11:18 pm
Wow! Teaching people to be illiterate has become acceptable in the name of branding. Sad, misguded and mistaken. Now they are going to have to try even harder to find quality material that can overcome the twee stupidity of their new name…why, why why? Someone with new responsibility in the organisation must have felt the need to urinate all over it so that thay can make their mark…
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