Sci-Fi Channel voluntarily walks the plank..........

[soundmotor]

“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.”

Did you now. Were you experiencing a paucity of middle-age hipness? It seems to me that everything they want to add in order to make themselves "more gooder" is already found elsewhere on the cable menu. I'll hold final opinion until fall but my gut tells me it was good while it lasted.

Sci-Fi Re-Imagines Itself

[VinylHanger]

I honestly don't think I have ever watched a scifi channel show at my own house. G4 has better stuff in the same vein. BBC America has better scifi shows. I equate scifi channel with low budget self made movies with bad special effects about creatures eating people. I can get the real thing on Animal Planet.

But heck, maybe the new name will cause me to change my viewing habits.

[ducati_EL34]

Originally Posted by soundmotor

“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.”

Did you now. Were you experiencing a paucity of middle-age hipness? It seems to me that everything they want to add in order to make themselves "more gooder" is already found elsewhere on the cable menu. I'll hold final opinion until fall but my gut tells me it was good while it lasted.

What makes you say that?

With DATA like this: "Sci Fi is coming off the best year in its history. In primetime it ranked 13th in total viewers among ad-supported cable networks in 2008. It’s a top-10 network in both adults 18 to 49 (up 4%) and adults 25 to 54 (up 6%).

During its fourth-quarter earnings call, parent General Electric said Sci Fi racked up a double-digit increase in operating earnings despite the beginnings of the recession."

This is before the name change. They must be doing something right. Yes they do lay some eggs at times. For a "Sci Fi" channel, they show way too many cheezy horror films, but, maybe that will change.

[soundmotor]

Originally Posted by ducati_EL34

What makes you say that?

With DATA like this: "Sci Fi is coming off the best year in its history. In primetime it ranked 13th in total viewers among ad-supported cable networks in 2008. It’s a top-10 network in both adults 18 to 49 (up 4%) and adults 25 to 54 (up 6%).

During its fourth-quarter earnings call, parent General Electric said Sci Fi racked up a double-digit increase in operating earnings despite the beginnings of the recession."

This is before the name change. They must be doing something right. Yes they do lay some eggs at times. For a "Sci Fi" channel, they show way too many cheezy horror films, but, maybe that will change.

If you like wrestling and shows about the paranormal, more power to you. However, Sci-Fi stopped putting money into high-quality new programming and have relied on reality-based & low production cost shows instead. McDonalds is very successful and is having a record year but that doesn't mean the food is that great. As I said, I'll wait until fall and see if the new iteration is "better"; I am right in their demo too.

[Sandy G]

Yeah, those dimbulb "Monsterquest" "UFO Hunter" & "Ghost Hunter" shows-How many times can they tell the SAME story over & over & over before people get sick of it ?

[EchoWars]

"Monster Quest" and "UFO Hunter" are on The History Channel, and are two good reasons why I rarely watch HC anymore.

[Sandy G]

Shows how much attention I pay to 'em, Glenn...But the point stands...They NEVER draw any conclusions on ANY of those sorts of shows. The "Sy-Fy"-Good Gawd... channel, if they wanna get the 45-55 male crowd, try showing us the shows we grew up with...And yes, maybe update 'em, w/new versions...But they never seem to remember the real reason we watched those shows in the 1st place-To be entertained. And have the SHYTE scared outta us by some horrible monster...We DON'T watch them to learn a lesson about brotherhood, or whatever feminist crapola the 20 something writers & 30-something producer is trying to push. "Eureka", I think, is about the best thing they have going, but they run a little of it now, a little more later, Grrrrrrr...You never know if its gonna be on or not. But being trendy, hip, & having the people who work there feel happy about themselves is more important than putting on quality entertainment....

[Eric H]

I heard they changed the name because they couldn't copyright "Sci-Fi" it's too generic and therefore not copyrightable?

[fotno]

To be honest, I haven't watched the Sci-Fi channel since Mystery Science Theater 3000 went off the air. If they can come up with something fresh and original I might decide to give it another try.

[ducati_EL34]

Originally Posted by Sandy G

Shows how much attention I pay to 'em, Glenn...But the point stands...They NEVER draw any conclusions on ANY of those sorts of shows. The "Sy-Fy"-Good Gawd... channel, if they wanna get the 45-55 male crowd, try showing us the shows we grew up with...And yes, maybe update 'em, w/new versions...But they never seem to remember the real reason we watched those shows in the 1st place-To be entertained. And have the SHYTE scared outta us by some horrible monster...We DON'T watch them to learn a lesson about brotherhood, or whatever feminist crapola the 20 something writers & 30-something producer is trying to push. "Eureka", I think, is about the best thing they have going, but they run a little of it now, a little more later, Grrrrrrr...You never know if its gonna be on or not. But being trendy, hip, & having the people who work there feel happy about themselves is more important than putting on quality entertainment....

I think Eureka got delayed by the writer's strike. I had no trouble watching last season in its entirety.

As for the old shows we grew up with, bring them on. Just remember to show them in the Correct sequence. It is time they brought B5 back for a complete run.

[soundmotor]

Originally Posted by ducati_EL34

B5 back for a complete run.

Damn straight!

[ablethevoice]

I'd like to see B5 again, but my problem with any series which is re-run in syndication: they are always edited. Always. Even MASH has substantial cuts as aired by Hallmark. When I bought the boxed set, I was amazed at how much material I was seeing compared to what I was watching in reruns on TV. The digitally-remastered Star Trek is irritating in how much material is removed. Each program is, on average, some 4 minutes shorter than the original broadcast version.

The way SciFi or SyFi or Sigh-Fi injects commercials into programs like Enterprise... gaah... I don't think I could watch reruns of B5 on Sci Fi channel.

[BigNate]

According to the article, the guy who helped found the SciFi channel then tried to distance it from science fiction. That should tell you all you need to know about these clowns. MSNBC, History Channel, A&E, SciFi — every channel with programming on a downward spiral can be traced back to the same culprit: NBC Universal.

[Jupiter1610]

Only time I ever watch the SciFi channel is when they run the yearly Twilight Zone marathon over the New Year's Holiday. Kind of a tradition.

[Celt]

If the moniker change doesn't work out, they can compete with the Food Network and become the "Stir-Fry" channel.