On the heels of the annoucement that Cartoon Network will now air non-cartoon programming, the Sci-Fi channel will rebrand itself as Syfy on July 7th. This will allow them to slowing change their programming away from science fiction and become yet another generic crap channel like G4 or Spike. Oh boy!
My little brother told me about this but I didn't want to believe him. Damnit all, why do they do this?
"When I became a man I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness and the desire to be very grown up." - C.S Lewis
Pandajuice
Title: The Power of Grayskull
Joined: Oct 30 2008
Location: US and UK
Posts: 2649
Posted:
Jul 05 2009 07:48 am
Because the vocal minority of stupid Americans get to decide for everyone what kind of entertainment we get. It's happening all over the place. Network TV is now singing competitions, dance competitions, and NASCAR. Many radio stations across the country that previously were devoted to talk, alternative rock, and even classic rock are changing into Top 40 pop bullshit and as soon as they do, their ratings skyrocket. Case in point; KLSX is L.A. recently switched from their long-time, proven hot talk format to Top 40 and the instant they played Lady GaGa and Justin Timberlake, they went from 24th in the market to 2nd, just behind the OTHER Top 40 station.
Sci-Fi probably got sick of bashing their heads against the wall making great, quality programming only to watch bullshit channels like Spike and G4 dominate the market. At some point, you give up and say, "if you can't beat em, join em".
Neutral-Bob
Title: Zarkin Frood
Joined: Aug 17 2006
Location: Casa Del Guapo
Posts: 964
Posted:
Jul 05 2009 08:27 am
That is so sad. I'm going to miss all the networks I actually watched. It seems that the History Channel is my last refuge and even that is starting to decay with the addition of more and more shows that have nothing to do with history.
"When I became a man I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness and the desire to be very grown up." - C.S Lewis
GPFontaine
Joined: Dec 06 2007
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 11244
Posted:
Jul 05 2009 09:07 am
Pandajuice wrote:
Because the vocal minority of stupid Americans get to decide for everyone what kind of entertainment we get. It's happening all over the place. Network TV is now singing competitions, dance competitions, and NASCAR. Many radio stations across the country that previously were devoted to talk, alternative rock, and even classic rock are changing into Top 40 pop bullshit and as soon as they do, their ratings skyrocket. Case in point; KLSX is L.A. recently switched from their long-time, proven hot talk format to Top 40 and the instant they played Lady GaGa and Justin Timberlake, they went from 24th in the market to 2nd, just behind the OTHER Top 40 station.
Sci-Fi probably got sick of bashing their heads against the wall making great, quality programming only to watch bullshit channels like Spike and G4 dominate the market. At some point, you give up and say, "if you can't beat em, join em".
It is the exact opposite of this. The majority of people do NOT like the Sci-Fi channel's programming. This is an attempt to earn more money and satisfy a larger population. Unfortunately what they don't realize is that cable is all about options. Having the option to look for Sci-Fi is important to many people even if they don't watch it regularly. Also to be fair and honest, Sci-Fi has produced some of TV's worst shows and movies. It almost ranks up there with Lifetime. The few great gems that it offers are usually not seen by large groups because the station has a bit of a stigma for those crap shows.
Still... I wish it would continue to exist as is and just clean up some of the bad programming.
SoldierHawk
Moderator
Title: Warrior-Poet
Joined: Jan 15 2009
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 6112
Posted:
Jul 05 2009 02:35 pm
I heard about this, but I just put it out of mind because it made me so sad. For me, this is worse than Cartoon Network. I love the SciFi channel, and I freely admit to loving most of their Original Movies/miniseries. Yeah, most of them were goofy, but they were a hell of a lot of fun, and once in a while they turned out something truly original and wonderful like Tin Man, or a pretty damn good adaptation like EarthSea. I don't know if they've announced that they'll keep making those or not, but god dammit I hope so. I don't think I want to live in a word without my dorky SciFi Channel movie fix.
William Shakespeare wrote:
Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none.
Ghandi
Title: Alexz Aficionado
Joined: May 21 2008
Posts: 2889
Posted:
Jul 05 2009 03:26 pm
Syd Lexia wrote:
This will allow them to slowing change their programming away from science fiction and become yet another generic crap channel like G4 or Spike. Oh boy!
That right there is the truth to the story
If only news sites reported it like this and not the flowery words they actually use attempting to make it sound like a good thing.
For what it's worth, KLSX was doomed when Stern left. Leykus has had the same shtick for eons and the other shows were just kinda dull, even though FHF had a pretty loyal following.
Ba'al
Title: Zerg Zergling
Joined: Mar 02 2008
Location: Uranus
Posts: 2286
Posted:
Jul 05 2009 04:13 pm
I wasn't a big fan of Sci-Fi, the only thing I watched was ECW, but now that Swagger and Bourne went to RAW, I haven't really been paying attention.
ReeperTheSeeker
Joined: Aug 26 2007
Posts: 2752
Posted:
Jul 05 2009 05:48 pm
I've said this many times before:
Lets face it the internet is the ultimate source for entertainment and all the network and cable channels know this, so they try to do whatever is popular to keep the ratings up even if it has nothing to do with what the channel is about. I'll be honest, i haven't watch much TV in like a year. Then again, my house only has network TV and there is very little to watch to being with.
Links, pics, vids . . . I shall post these when given the chance
Transformers 2 Review: ". . . Did i mention SHIT BLOWS UP?!!!"
Syd Lexia
Site Admin
Title: Pop Culture Junkie
Joined: Jul 30 2005
Location: Wakefield, MA
Posts: 24883
Posted:
Jul 05 2009 05:51 pm
GPFontaine wrote:
Also to be fair and honest, Sci-Fi has produced some of TV's worst shows and movies.
You are half right. Sci-Fi's original movies have been unequivocally terrible. I don't understand why they felt the need to produce as these awful movies when they could have been airing tried and true sci-fi classics like Blade Runner, Total Recall, and Aliens as well as more cultish films like Prince Of Darkness and Dune.
However, for the most part, Sci-Fi's original series have been excellent, with Battlestar Galactica being the most prominent example. Plus, they have Dr. Who.
"Let that be a lesson to you, your family and everyone you've ever known..."
"Thanks to denial, I'm immortal!"
JoshWoodzy
Joined: May 22 2008
Location: Goshen, VA
Posts: 6544
Posted:
Jul 05 2009 10:19 pm
I don't give a shit either.
Dr. Who comes on BBC, I have the "Chiller" channel so I can watch Tales from the Darkside, Monsters, Freddy's Nightmares and all my other favorite campy 80's and 90's badly produced horror shows.
Wait, why am I watching Freddy's Nightmares that show is fucking terrible. The same Channel also plays Friday the 13th The Series and Poltergeist : The legacy. Which, goes without saying, are all fucking awful.
Kubo
Joined: Aug 24 2005
Location: Mount Holly, NJ
Posts: 1062
Posted:
Jul 06 2009 11:15 am
If they stop playing Twilight Zone marathons on Independence Day and Memorial Day, I'm going to be extremely fucking pissed.
Thou, because I am wroth, be not dismayed, for I shall win the strife, whoever circle round within for the defence. This their insolence is not new, for of old they used it at a less secret gate, which still is found without a bolt. Above it thou didst see the dead inscription; and already on this side of it
descends the steep, passing without escort through the circles,
One such that by him the city shall be opened to us.
Kojjiro!
Joined: Feb 16 2008
Posts: 832
Posted:
Aug 10 2009 11:51 am
If it's any consolation Warehouse 13 is really entertaining
Haddox
Flying Hellfish
Title: Pirate
Joined: May 11 2006
Location: The High Seas
Posts: 174
Posted:
Aug 10 2009 11:53 am
It is. Saul Rubinek is awesome. Sometimes I forget he's not Harold Ramis.
I never really watched Sci-Fi, but SyFy is a fucking stupidass name. On a side note, fuck this "Cartoon Network: Real" bullshit. You're the fucking CARTOON Network, not the washed-up basketball players on trampolines network. I blame Tim and Eric for all of this.
Aqua Hedgehog
Joined: Nov 02 2008
Posts: 725
Posted:
Aug 27 2009 05:14 am
I blame the 90.99% of America that consists of stupid people who believe CNN's bullshit for this.
Black Zarak
Title: Big Coffin Hunter
Joined: Feb 01 2006
Location: Phyrexia
Posts: 4098
Posted:
Aug 27 2009 01:18 pm
Char Aznable wrote:
I never really watched Sci-Fi, but SyFy is a fucking stupidass name. On a side note, fuck this "Cartoon Network: Real" bullshit. You're the fucking CARTOON Network, not the washed-up basketball players on trampolines network. I blame Tim and Eric for all of this.
While I like to blame Tim & Eric for pretty much everything, how do you figure? It's not a daytime scheduale show and it's not the first live action show the channel has ever aired. If anything, all of Nick's live action teeny bopper crap shows prompted this.
Also unrelated, but I think it's funny how Les Stroud decided to stop doing Man vs. Wild to do something new and exciting or whatever and so he does a watered down version of the same show with a bunch of stupid kids for "Cartoon" Network.
"Let that be a lesson to you, your family and everyone you've ever known..."
"Thanks to denial, I'm immortal!"
Syd Lexia
Site Admin
Title: Pop Culture Junkie
Joined: Jul 30 2005
Location: Wakefield, MA
Posts: 24883
Posted:
Aug 27 2009 01:57 pm
How will the change from Sci-Fi to Syfy effect the channel? Aside from justifying the fact that ECW is on the channel, nothing much yet. Apparently though, it will not stop the channel from producing "too fucking awful for a DVD release" movies, because Jewel Staite is in Louisiana right now filming a movie called Mothman right now. So, boo to that. But hey, Jewel Staite.
Les Stroud was the star of "Survivorman" not "Man vs. Wild". Also he is making more money doing what he's doing now, so I certainly don't blame him for wanting to do less work for more cash.
username
Title: owner of a lonely heart
Joined: Jul 06 2007
Location: phoenix, az usa
Posts: 16131
Posted:
Sep 29 2009 12:03 am
street fighter motion comic on the syfy channel. i just caught this right now. its kind of cool. anyone else catch this?
EDIT: right after, they showed Voltron, the motion comic. that was pretty cool too.
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Sedix19
Title: ~Baffling Artist~
Joined: Oct 01 2009
Location: U.S.A.
Posts: 183
Posted:
Oct 01 2009 10:47 am
I haven't truly watched TV for...a couple years now.
