Sci Fi Channel founder bashes name change

A co-founder of the Sci Fi Channel is taking offense at NBC Universal's plan to change the network's name.

"SyFy, say it's not so!" writes channel originator Mitch Rubenstein. "What would Isaac [Asimov] have said if the name was instead SyFy Channel? He would have said (we believe): 'That's just plain dumb.'"

Rubenstein, along with his partner Laurie Silvers, were Boca Raton entrepreneurs who conceived of a sci-fi themed cable network, then sold the concept to USA Network in 1991. 

Rubenstein and Silvers now own Hollywood.com, where he posted the protest yesterday. The rest of Rubenstein's open letter gives you a pretty clear sense of sci-fi community sensitivity, and if anything should comfort the cable network's executives that this too shall pass. Back in the early '90s, apparently even calling a network the Sci Fi Channel was met with outrage.

You see, there's SF and then there's sci fi -- the former SF is hard science fiction, characterized by factual attention to detail (Arthur C. Clarke, etc.), whereas purists considered the latter sci-fi to be silly stories about wookies. It seems when Rubenstein first announced the channel, hardcore genre fans insisted the channel be called the "SF Channel," but some argued that drawing a broader audience was more important (sound familiar?).

From his letter:

Laurie and I presented the concept of a 24-hour cable TV network dedicated to science fiction to a packed room of SF writers at the Science Fiction Writers of America meeting.

The writers were not happy — and that's an understatement. They said they wouldn't watch it. They would oppose it unless we called it the SF Channel because calling it "Sci Fi Channel" was a put-down to the SF genre, as "sci-fi" is slang for SF and science fiction — and a huge mistake. And I said if we called it the SF Channel, people would think it's about the city of San Francisco.

I was booed.

Then Isaac started to speak and said that the name had to be Sci Fi Channel and not the SF Channel in order to draw a wide, diverse audience and be successful. To be in a financial position to acquire and produce the best programming. That's really what counts, right? The writers came around and agreed. Heck, it was Isaac Asimov saying "Sci Fi Channel" was OK, and that was that.

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Comments

[John W Peterson]

If it comes down to trademark-ability, I guess SyFy is the way to go but when the founder thinks the name is stupid you may want to think twice about the whole thing. It is a shame that SciFi is a genre and cannot be protected the way a made up word like SyFy can be. It is just too bad that they thought they were being cute and hip when they thought up the name.

[Stuart C. Hellinger]

Why can't it be trademarked? They never tried. If The Weather Channel can be trademarked, why not the SciFi Channel??

Unfortunately, I doubt that NBCU and Bonnie "I will destroy the SciFi Channel" Hammer will pay any attention.

[Save Scifi Channel]

Join my protest, avoid all "LIVE " NBC Universal networks shows the day the name is changed and let NBC suffer the rating decline.

See details http://savescifi.blogspot.com/

[John W Peterson]

The term SciFi cannot be trademarked because it is a genre, however Syfy is all theirs and that is what they want. It doesn't matter that it is ridiculous and that their tagline makes no sense either.

"The Weather Channel" in its entirety is trademarked and so is their specific logo. I think NBCU wanted to be able to do same things with "SciFi" and that can't be done in the same way that you cannot trademark the word "weather."

[The Mann]

SF? Fans will know what you mean right away. SciFi? Most people will recognize what you're talking about.

SyFy? What the hell does that even mean?

[Simon]

I posted this earlier at the SCIFIwire website, following Howe's specious notion of the "untrademarkable" nature of "Sci Fi":

The continued claim that "Sci Fi Channel" or variants thereof couldn't be trademarked is patently (if you'll pardon the pun) false. In fact, "Sci-Fi Channel" *used* to be trademarked for various products by USA Networks (the original founders of Sci Fi) and was later assigned to Universal City, the predecessor to NBC-Universal. The lawyers failed to file a required Statement of Use in 2001-- after five(!) extensions-- and the trademark was then abandoned.

See: http://tarr.uspto.gov/servlet/tarr?regser=serial&entry=75151175

That doesn't however mean that it's fallen into public domain-- it just means that the lawyers had a bit more work to do.

It's a shame that Sci Fi's current president is either intentionally or unknowingly making this tenuous claim as the reason for the name change.

[Mark Woodworth]

Sounds like the Sissi channel. I wonder how much they paid some idiotic brain trust for that one!

I will retreat even more to my DVR collection and iTunes, and i have sci fi channel on almost all the time!

Bonnie Hammer has done SO MUCH to destroy the sci fi channel. They seem to stop at nothing to alienate their core audience. They repeat programming to a ludicrous level. They added WRESTLING!? They do that stupid ghost hunter crap. They ruined Sci Fri Friday! They cancel SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis! The list goes on and on.

MS. Hammer is an idiot, and if *I* was in charge, I would work to develop my core market, not go after Spike channel audiance. They could be doing interviews with sci fi authors. They could do live covering fan conventions, like ComiCon. They could do any number of things to make this a great channel.

[roninkai]

Well just preface it with the word "The", as in
"The Weather Channel".
The Sci Fi Network, The Sci Fi Channel, The Sci Fi Ogliarchy, whatever.
My job is done here.

[Josh]

gah, this pisses me off to no end. This whole name change is a bunch of crap. I thought it couldn't get any worse the day I turned SciFi on and farking WRESTLING was playing! I was flabberghasted! Maybe someone with SENSE will create a new station. I've had it with the SciFi channel, I'll never watch it again. I'll just get my shows on DVD and torrent downloads. Here's to you, "SyFy" ,,|,,

Idiots.

[Bill]

Why don't they just cut their losses and call it something else entirely. The SciFi content has been dominated by Grade B horror movies and campy UFO and Ghost shows for years now anyway.

[joel branstein]

SyFy sounds really dumb, but then again, I thought calling the Nintendo console a Wii was incredibly stupid and look how that turned out. It might seem dumb, but there's a method to the madness of branding schemes.

[Martin]

SyFy... Sounds like Syphilis :S

[Ruby]

When my husband told me about this name change, I was horrified. It sounds like no one at the SciFi Channel's parent company wants to put forth the effort to build and maintain a core audience. SyFy is the silliest looking logo I have seen in a while. The visual implications are so negative.

Who does this kind of thing???

[silencer]

The Syphilis Channel, where pro wrestling meets disappointed science fiction fans.

[silencer]

sci fi + less= syfy less.... it's just too easy.

[Mark]

These guys are clowns. There's a reason SyFy isn't trademarked...ummm...because it is retarded and only an illiterate fool would even contemplate such an idea. There are plenty of other things to trademark, such as logos, etc. rather than showing that SciFi is now owned by the man and the man can't count his balls and get the same number twice. There are a lot of intelligent people in the world, including the SciFi viewer. Make it a contest or put a poll on the website for people to vote. I'm sure they'd make the right choice. Simple rule - if you make a decision in a vacuum, you can be assured that it is going to suck. SyFy...*rolls eyes* Even my cat laughed.

[LogicPrevails]

I file this in the same category as when i meet someone with a name like Jazzmynn. It's moronic but in the end, they probably didn't name themselves. It's the personality (content), I judge the person (channel) on.

[ChaiYunFat]

First they took away my Tech TV and gave me G4 horredness and now they want to call the already terribly declined Sci Fi channel to SyFy?!?!

Sigh... cant we have any non-dumbed down channels to enjoy anymore? Not many reasons left to keep my cable subscription!

[WF]

SyFy isn't a good word in Poland. However, I recall reading that they knew that when they made the change, so if folks call it crap (which is what it basically means), then they're right.

The most disturbing thing is not the name change per se, but that they're 'broadening' their content, which means less and less content, so I guess spelling scifi as syfy is correct. It's not going to be science fiction anymore, but more crap (wrestling is NOT science fiction).

[Driving Sidecars]

I remember when the channel first started. It was obvious that although short of funds the folks had a genuine interest in the genre. Sci Fi Buzz, decent films, FTL newsfeeds, and so on.

Now when I see a movie listed I know it died first elsewhere. I hardly watch the channel anymore.

[saint]

Gah, say it isn't so. A Sci-Fi channel is a great concept. Hope someone executes it because SyFy doesn't instill confidence. Is this really the same network that brought us the new BSG?

[alexx]

I file this in the same category as when i meet someone with a name like Jazzmynn. It's moronic but in the end, they probably didn't name themselves. It's the personality (content), I judge the person (channel) on..

[Rick]

So who even cares about the name of a channel anyway? Are the shows staying the same..?

IMHO: I could care less... and i'm sure most people are in the same boat.

[Brian]

I remember when I first got cable and was flipping channels, I instantly knew what the SciFi channel was but I wouldn't have know whet SyFy was. I would have missed some of my all time favorite TV Shows. Hopefully someone comes to their scenes.

[psyonic1]

The new name is ridiculous and the channel programming has become abysmal. If you want to watch a great science fiction station, checkout www.spacecast.com otherwise known as "Space: The Imagination Station."

[Bob Forsberg]

SciFi, its make believe. Who else but lawyers and people who hang out with lawyers would waste time on making SyFy a trademark...maybe the people who pay them? Maybe NBC should become EnBeeSee so they can make that a better trademark? I know, the Food Channel will be renamed the Phoud Channel...food is too generic.

Lawyers are like politicians, they listen to their own crap too much and start to believe their own logic...no wait politicians are mostly lawyers...never mind.

[Edge]

SciFi, SyFy, sounds the same. What upsets me is the loss of Saturn as their logo. That alone makes the network unique.

[mearycat!]

i like the planet drawing! is that gone too? syfy looks stupid!!!dream up another one!!

[TheTVObserver]

The issue could be control. Control over the name and the channel as best as NBC Universal could master, since most channel developers try to ensure that domains, trademarks and any services marks related to the proposed venture are secured prior to the launch of such media venture to avoid problems.

It becomes tricky when you invest millions in a business and you later discover that your name is not yours....lets not forget a little case study from MTV Networks and Spike Lee, when they changed the channel to SPIKE.

Do I think changing the name is a good idea....NO! But can I get used to SyFy....its creepy but in a while it may take on. From a business position...I think this may work for NBCU.

[W.E.]

Well they want see me buy another product from them or even watch there most recent "Cannot even be rated as a "B" crappy movie they suck so bad" again. Enough said. There past 1-1/2 years of changes to OMG WTFH Wrestling and uder crap reality shows is noting short of offensive. Problem is that most of the rating boxes are at homes of people who would not watch sci-fi, which is why we used to have a dedicated sci-fi channel. If I could unsubscribe from this new sci-fi I would in a heart beat. Good Bye Sci-Fi and any NBC network shows.

[W.E.]

If they try and claim that they cannot protect the name, call them liers to there face.
Look here.

http://tarr.uspto.gov/servlet/tarr?regser=serial&entry=75151175

[Sci-Fi Resistance Leader]

Join the resistance!!! Down with SyFy, and down with NBC!!!

[Sci-Fi Resistance Leader]

http://bit.ly/Sci-Fi_Resistance

[leonard hall]

wow to have a channel that is supposed to appeal to a group of people then to change the name to something that is as asinine as { SYFY?} this is what happens when people who are only semiliterate at best are unable to get UNHOOKED ON FONIX

[leonard hall]

SCIENCE FICTION OR SYINCE FYCTION?

[leonard hall]

my wife and i went from loyal watchers of the scifi channel to netflix/blockbuster junkies faster than you can say lol syfy