Thread: SciFi history?
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Old 09-08-2010, 10:29 AM   #198
kindlekitten
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Quote:
Originally Posted by crich70 View Post
I remember hearing about an interview that Leonard Nimoy gave someone yrs back where the writer used the term SciFi and Mr. Nimoy took some heat for it from some fans so it's not too unbelievable that some people are easily irritated. What I don't like myself is the ScyFy (I think I've spelled it right) that they show on the Science Fiction channel now days. It's plain sloppy spelling I think, and not at all attractive.
I think they just did it so they felt a little more justified in showing all the damn wrestling. *shudder*

Quote:
Originally Posted by Strolls View Post
The reason for this is that "sci-fi" is a generic term, so they couldn't use it (or at least defend it) as a trademark.

And presumably "The Science Fiction Channel" is too long - it takes an extra second or two longer to say that when announcing "next on this channel" or "later this week on this channel" than it does to say "sci-fi" or something that sounds like it. Not only is a shorter name snappier and more appealing, but those extra seconds add up, increase viewer disattention, and it's time that could be spent on revenue-generating advertising instead.

So, anyway, the channel was left with the option of branding themselves in some other way that was synonymous with science-fiction or choosing to "misspell" their name. There's a lot of hate for this "ScyFy" branding (and I've read a lot of hate for the channel in general) but I can see why they did it.

What other brand name could they have chosen that would be so recognisable? They want the name to be recognisable to viewers as being related to science-fiction, without being in any way confusing - with no possibility for being mistaken for anything else. That way even irregular enthusiasts of science fiction will be attracted to the channel, "oh, cool, I fancy a bit of sci-fi right now". Calling the channel "robot" or "space" or "moon" - nothing else I can think of right now that would have such instant recognisability.
interesting theory. any substance? can you back it up?
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