Sometimes decisions are made that make me pause and seriously wonder what could possibly have been running through the decision makers’ heads when coming to the conclusion they did. Such is the case when I heard the news of…

Sci Fi Channel Renaming to SyFy

Initial reaction: Why? Second thought: What a dumb name. Third thought: SyFy? Is that like Syfo?

Well, here’s their reasoning:

From tvweek.com:

“The name Sci Fi has been associated with geeks and dysfunctional, antisocial boys in their basements with video games and stuff like that, as opposed to the general public and the female audience in particular,” said TV historian Tim Brooks, who helped launch Sci Fi Channel when he worked at USA Network.

Mr. Brooks said that when people who say they don’t like science fiction enjoy a film like “Star Wars,” they don’t think it’s science fiction; they think it’s a good movie.

“We spent a lot of time in the ’90s trying to distance the network from science fiction, which is largely why it’s called Sci Fi,” Mr. Brooks said. “It’s somewhat cooler and better than the name ‘Science Fiction.’ But even the name Sci Fi is limiting.”

[Dave Howe, president of the Sci Fi Channel] said going to Syfy will make a difference.

“It gives us a unique word and it gives us the opportunities to imbue it with the values and the perception that we want it to have,” he said.

Oh, I get it. You’re trying to trick the average science-fiction-is-too-geeky-for-me TV watcher into watching one of those low-budget, poorly-produced movie full of giant CG worms that the Sci-Fi Channel is so well known for? Yeah, that’s going to work. Good idea.

More details from tvweek.com:

The network plans to make the changeover July 7, when it will launch the new series “Warehouse 13.”

The series, about a secret government facility in South Dakota where all mysterious relics and supernatural souvenirs are housed, is emblematic of the channel’s programming direction.

“It is a dramedy and it is set in the here and now. It’s a kind of an Indiana Jones meets ‘Moonlighting’ meets ‘The X-Files,’” Mr. Howe said. “This is a very accessible, relatable, fun show.”

I like Indiana Jones. I like The X-Files. Will I like Warehouse 13? Unlikely. Very unlikely.

So far, the only Sci-Fi Channel original programming that I have actually enjoyed (even if only a little bit) has been Who Wants To Be a Superhero? and Cha$e, both of which were reality/game shows. They were extremely corny, but still amusing.

So how about this Sci-Fi Channel: Instead of changing your name to something goofy like SyFy, how about just producing some quality entertainment that everyone can enjoy, whether they’re a science-fiction fan or not? Geek-targeted titles like Battlestar Galactica aren’t going to cut it. Just keep it simple, like (to use Mr. Brooks’ example) Star Wars.