Sci Fi Channel (United States) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search This article has multiple issues. Please help improve the article or discuss these issues on the talk page. It needs additional references or sources for verification. Tagged since February 2009. It may contain original research or unverifiable claims. Tagged since February 2009. It may require general cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. Tagged since February 2009. Its lead section requires expansion. Tagged since February 2009. Sci Fi Channel Launched September 24, 1992 Owned by NBC Universal Picture format 480i (SDTV) 1080i (HDTV) Slogan I F (SCI FI) Headquarters New York City, United States Website www.scifi.com Availability Satellite DirecTV Channel 244 Dish Network Channel 122 C-Band Galaxy 14-Channel 1 Meo Portugal Channel 65 SKY México Channel 209 Directv (Latin America) Channel 221 Cable Comcast Channel 160 SD Channel 177 HD Time Warner Cable Channel 17 (NYC area) Varies by region Sci Fi Channel is an American cable television channel, launched on September 24, 1992, that specializes in science fiction, fantasy, horror, and paranormal programming. It is part of the entertainment conglomerate NBC Universal. On March 16, 2009 the network announced that it would be rebranding its identity to "Syfy", a change scheduled to take effect on July 7, 2009. Sci Fi Channel is available in high definition, but often broadcasts in 4:3 format rather than the traditional HD format of 16:9. Contents [hide] 1 History 2 Programming 2.1 Miniseries 2.2 Sci Fi Pictures original films 2.3 Non-science-fiction programming 3 Website 4 Ratings 5 Logos 6 References 7 External links [edit] History The channel was launched on September 24, 1992 as a joint venture between Paramount Pictures, USA Networks, and Universal Pictures.[1] In that time, network programming included the 1960s television series Dark Shadows, the film serial Flash Gordon, and other science fiction movies and series.[1] The channel was seen as a natural fit with classic film and television series that both studios had in their vaults, including Rod Serling's Night Gallery (from Universal TV) and Paramount's Star Trek and classic Universal horror films such as Dracula and Frankenstein. Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry and author Isaac Asimov were among those on the advisory board.[2] In 1997, Seagram, which bought MCA in 1995, purchased Viacom's interest in USA and Sci Fi, and sold the networks to Barry Diller in 1998 to form USA Networks, Inc. Diller later sold USA's non-shopping (film and TV) assets, including Sci-Fi, to Universal's then-parent Vivendi Universal in 2002. Vivendi's film, television, and cable TV assets were then merged with General Electric's NBC to form NBC Universal in 2004. A high definition version of the channel launched on October 3, 2007 on DIRECTV, on Comcast on April 15, 2008,[3][4] and Dish Network on April 18, 2008.[5] On March 16, 2009, Sci Fi announced that it is planning to change its name to Syfy, to end confusion over how to capitalize and stylize their name and as part of an on-going rebranding effort. Network officials also noted that, unlike the generic term "sci fi" which represents the entire science fiction genre, the term "Syfy" can be protected by trademark and therefore would be easier to market on other goods or services without fear of confusion with other companies' products. The only significant previous use of the term "syfy" in relation to science fiction was by the website SyFy Portal, which became Airlock Alpha after selling the brand to NBC Universal (represented by a shell company) in February;[6] there are however a number of unrelated firms using the similar term "syfi", such as information technology company SyFi Global. The new name is scheduled to take effect on July 7, 2009.[7] [edit] Programming See also: List of Sci Fi Channel (United States) programs Sci Fi's programming includes original television movies, miniseries, and series. In the past, the channel has also aired many canceled "cult classic" science fiction TV shows. Briefly in the early 1990s, Sci Fi aired anime films, although they were often edited in order to fit the market pressures typically placed on basic cable. It was the first to show the Streamline Pictures English dubs of the films Robot Carnival, Lensman, and Akira, as well as airing Central Park Media's Dominion: Tank Police, Gall Force, and Project A-ko. Although most of Sci Fi's anime programming was composed of feature-length films, a few, such as Dominion: Tank Police, were original video animations (OVAs) edited to fit into the feature timeslot. In May 2007, it was announced that anime would be returning to Sci Fi Channel on June 11, 2007 in a programming block called "Ani-Monday". The block features the English dubs of series licensed by Manga Entertainment. During February 2008, Sci Fi also aired anime on Tuesday nights in an "Anime on Tuesdays" programming block.[8] [edit] Miniseries Sci-Fi original programming gained national prominence in 2003 with the airing of Steven Spielberg Presents: Taken, which won the Emmy Award that year for best miniseries. [edit] Sci Fi Pictures original films See also: List of Sci Fi Pictures original films Developed by Chris Regina, Ray Cannella and Thomas Vitale, Sci Fi's original films are typically independently-made B movie-quality movies with total budgets of $1 to 2 million a piece. They usually premiere on Saturday nights.[9][10] They are also one of the sponsors for the Coalition for Freedom of Information. [edit] Non-science-fiction programming In 2006, Sci Fi began showing some non-sci-fi programming. These have included: Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, shown on May 4, 2006[11] WWE's ECW on Sci Fi, started June 13, 2006[12][13] WCG Ultimate Gamer started March 10, 2009 [edit] Website It has been suggested that Sci Fi Weekly be merged into this article or section. (Discuss) SciFi.com is the Sci Fi Channel's website, launched in 1995 under the name "The Dominion" (which it dropped in 2000). It was one of the first large-scale, publicly available, well-advertised, and non-portal based Web sites.[14] In addition to information on the channel's programming, it covers science fiction in general, primarily through its semi-autonomous Science Fiction Weekly webzine, edited by Scott Edelman, and SciFi Wire newswire. The site has won a Webby Award and a Flash Forward Award. From 2000–2005, it published original science fiction short stories in a section called SciFiction, edited by Ellen Datlow, who won a 2005 Hugo Award for her work there. The stories themselves won a World Fantasy Award; the first Theodore Sturgeon Award for online fiction (for Lucius Shepard's novella "Over Yonder"), and four of the Science Fiction Writers of America's Nebula Awards, including the first for original online fiction (for Linda Nagata's novella "Goddesses"). SCIFIpedia is a commercial wiki special interest encyclopedia owned by the Sci Fi Channel as part of its scifi.com web site. Launched on April 22, 2006, SCIFIpedia's topics include anime, comics, science fiction, fantasy, horror, fandom, games and toys, UFOs, genre-related art and audio, and the paranormal.[15] [edit] Ratings In 2008, Sci Fi averaged a 1.0 Household rating; 242,000 Adults 18-34 (up 4% vs 2007); 616,000 Adults 18-49 (up 5% vs 2007); 695,000 Adults 25-54 (up 6% vs 2007) and 1,278,000 total viewers (up 7% vs 2007). SCI FI had two years of consecutive growth among females audiences, with a 12% increase among Women 25-54, a 14% jump in Women 18-49 and 6% more Women 18-34. SCI FI also ranked among the top ten among Men 25-54 (#6), Men 18-49 (#9) and Women 25-54 (#10).[16] [edit] Logos Sci Fi has used three different logos since its inception. Each logo has prominently featured a stylized representation of the planet Saturn. Original Sci-Fi Channel logo, in use from 1992–1999. Second Sci-Fi Channel logo, in use from 1999–2002; around this time, the hyphen was dropped from the channel's name. Sci Fi Channel's current logo, introduced in 2002. [edit] References ^ a b Carter, Bill. "USA Buys Sci-Fi Channel". The New York Times: March 31, 1992. ^ Omni (October 1992): "A Channel for Science Fiction" ^ Comcast launches six new HD channels in San Francisco Bay area - Engadget HD ^ DIRECTV Adds Six HD Channels ^ DISH Network Expands National HD Line-Up ^ "SciFi Channel Changes Name ... To Syfy". Airlock Alpha. 2009-03-15. http://www.airlockalpha.com/news426164.html. Retrieved on 2009-03-15. ^ Elliot, Stuart (2009-03-15). "Sci Fi Channel Has a New Name: Now, It’s Syfy". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/16/business/media/16adcol.html. Retrieved on 2009-03-16. ^ "America's Sci Fi Channel Adds Anime on Tuesdays". Anime News Network. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-01-03/america's-sci-fi-channel-adds-anime-on-tuesdays. Retrieved on 2008-01-03. ^ Gary Wolf. "We've Created a Monster!", Wired, October 2004 ^ SCI FI Announces Films for '06." press release, April 14, 2005. ^ "Schedulebot". SCIFI.COM. 2006-05-04. http://www.scifi.com/schedulebot/index.php3?date=4-MAY-2006&feed_req. Retrieved on 2006-06-02. ^ Stropoli, Rebecca. Sci Fi Gets Itself in a Headlock. Broadcasting & Cable: May 25, 2006 ^ "Schedulebot". SCIFI.COM. 2006-06-15. http://www.scifi.com/schedulebot/index.php3?date=13-JUN-2006&feed_req. Retrieved on 2006-06-02. ^ "SCIFI.COM — SCIFIPEDIA". http://scifipedia.scifi.com/index.php/SCIFI.COM. ^ "Scifipedia Press Release at the futon critic". http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=20060426scifi01. ^ http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?date=12/17/08&id=20081217scifi01 [edit] External links Official Site The Sci-Fi Channel at the Internet Movie Database Sci Fi charts its course for the future, LA Times - Interview with Dave Howe [show]v • d • eNBC Universal, Inc. (a subsidiary of General Electric 80% and Vivendi SA 20%) Universal Studios Focus Features • Islands of Adventure • United International Pictures1 • Universal Animation Studios • Universal Studios Home Entertainment • Universal Playback • Universal Orlando Resort • Universal Pictures • Universal Studios Hollywood Theme Park • Universal Studios Florida Theme Park • Universal Studios Japan • Universal Studios Singapore • Universal Studios Theme Parks • Universal CityWalk Broadcast TV assets NBC • Telemundo • NBC News • NBC Sports NBC Universal Cable A&E Television Networks (25%) • Bravo • Chiller • CNBC • MSNBC2 • Mun2 • Oxygen • SCI FI • ShopNBC • Sleuth • Telemundo Internacional • The Weather Channel8 • Universal HD • USA Network • Universal Sports (50%) • Weatherscan8 CNBC global channels CNBC (US) • CNBC World • CNBC Latin America • CNBC Europe • CNBC Asia • CNBC Africa CNBC Europe branches Class CNBC (20%) • CNBC-e • CNBC Arabiya (according to CNBC Europe) • CNBC Nordic • CNBC Africa • TVN CNBC Biznes CNBC Asia branches Nikkei CNBC • CNBC-TV18 • CNBC Awaaz • CNBC Pakistan • CNBC Australia • CNBC Hong Kong • CNBC Singapore NBC Universal global networks SCI FI • 13th Street • Universal Channel • Hallmark Channel • Movies 24 • KidsCo7 • Diva TV • Studio Universal • Das Vierte • Sci Fi global channels US • UK • Germany • France • Australia • Spain • Benelux • Poland • Portugal • Romania • Russia • Latin America NBC Universal Television Group NBC Studios • NBC Universal Television Distribution • Telemundo Television Studios • Telemundo of Puerto Rico Studios • Universal Media Studios NBC O&Os KNBC • KNSD3 • KNTV • KXAS3 • WCAU • WMAQ • WNBC • WRC • WTVJ • WVIT Telemundo O&Os KBLR • KEJT-LP • KHRR • KDEN • KNSO • KTAZ • KTMD • KVDA • KSTS • KVEA • KXTX • WKAQ • WNEU6 • WNJU • WSCV • WSNS ShopNBC O&Os WWDP Spanish independent TV stations KWHY Internet ventures: msnbc.com2 • NBBC4 • iVillage • Television Without Pity • OUTzoneTV.com • getTRIO.com • BrilliantButCancelled.com • calamitygame.com • Hulu9 Other assets: qubo5 • EMKA, Ltd. Defunct properties: NBC Weather Plus• Trio 50%, with Viacom's Paramount Pictures. Co-owned with Microsoft in a joint venture (82% owned by NBC, 18% owned by Microsoft). The stations are co-owned with LIN TV in a joint venture (76% owned by NBC, 24% owned by LIN). A joint venture between NBC Universal and its broadcast affiliates. Co-owned with Corus Entertainment, Classic Media, Scholastic Books and ION Media Networks The station is owned by NBC Universal, but is controlled by ZGS Broadcast Holdings. Co-owned with Corus Entertainment and Cookie Jar Group. Co-owned with Blackstone Group and Bain Capital. Co-owned with News Corporation. [show]v • d • eWebby Awards Award Nominee, 1998 award in the category TV Awards Ceremonies 1997 · 1998 · 1999 · 2000 · 2001 · List Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sci_Fi_Channel_(United_States)" Categories: Webby Awards | General Electric subsidiaries | NBC Universal networks | Sci Fi Channel (United States) | Television channels and stations established in 1992 | Science fiction television channels | HD channels | Former Viacom subsidiaries