TV News

Don't worry, it's not becoming "The ECW Wrestling Network."  NBC/Universal announced in a press release this morning that the SciFi channel will be changing its name after sixteen years.  The new name: SyFy.  The change will allow NBCUni to trademark the name as well as the logos - since 'Sci Fi' is a generic term used to identify the genre as a whole. The move will coincide with the launch of several sub brands including SyFy Kids, SyFy Games, SyFy Films, and of course SyFy Professional Wrestling.  Okay, so the wrestling thing isn't true - and NBCUni is still not explaining what the heck professional wrestling has to do with science fiction.

In the official press release, NBCUni explained their actions like this:

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.