A brief break for the silly

[sparkindarkness]

I’m in the middle of writing the next careful and thoughtful piece but I had to take time out for the stupid - because I couldn’t just leave it as a comment on strega42’s journal.

Lookee here
http://www.tvweek.com/news/2009/03/sci_fi_channel_aims_to_shed_ge.php

Seems that the SciFi channel is trying to shed it’s geeky image - by changing its name to Syfy.

Well, let’s pause for a moment and consider that. The SciFi channel is trying to be less geeky. Less geeky? Why? Scifi is a genre that is dedicated to geeks? Us geeky folks ARE the primary consumers. Why try to identify less with a genre that your target audience values? It’s like the Adult Channel trying to be less sexy or the Discovery channel trying to be less information based. Unless you’re drastically going to change the entire channel you can’t lose a defining part of it.

And the rebranded name? Syfy. Yeah, I’m serious. It’s the SAME DAMN NAME only it’s spelt wrong! Do they think ANYONE is going to think the “Syfy” channel is any less geeky? Really?

So you’re trying to appeal to a wider demographic? Is that even remotely a good idea? I mean, if you go mainstream you’re going to lose your loyal geek fanbase and then compete with other, long standing common denominator entertainment channels for a more generic audience. With the name “Syfy” to attract them. It’s even more insane when you’re boasting that SciFi is doing its best EVAH. It’s WORKING. It’s SUCCEEDING. Your little geeks are earning you the monies so you’re going to reinvent yourself now?



Oh and extra points for INSULTING your dominant fanbase at the same time. Yeah real class there. Because really this? “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,” Should never have been said. Did your PR people not hit you with a hammer when you decided to say that?

Y’know what? You want to get more people interested in the channel? Challenge the stereotype of Scifi genre! Have an advertising campaign with a mixed demographic of people saying “I watch Scifi.” Have an ad campaign where you can say things like “Scifi? *derogatory statement*” queue clip of Star Wars or other epic film that contradicts it.

Comments

[moondancerdrake.livejournal.com]

I head one of the people doing this in a lifetime exec who hates scifi, go figure. It would be nice to get folks in change there willing to challange the veiw of what scifi is and who are fans. The syfy thing is just ignorant on soooo many levels.

[sparkindarkness.livejournal.com]

He hates scifi and works on the scifi channel. This explains far too much

[solid-squid.livejournal.com]

You forgot the last issue with it, which is the new name 'Syfy' is apparently a polish slang term for syphilis, which of course most of the internet is aware of now. So not only do they not want to associate with geeks, but they think that association is worse than one with an STI

[mrmeval.livejournal.com]

Oh Really?! I've been saying Get your Syphilis from Syfy and did not know that. :-P

[sparkindarkness.livejournal.com]

LOL, just adding to the idiocy

[kirylyn.livejournal.com]

don't forget their claim that 'Syfy' is how the tweens (who they're trying to hit) text the word 'SciFi'

one of my friends insist on calling the channel 'Skiffy' *rolls eyes*

one of the best suggestions for a name I've seen is: We-have-crap-now-that-both-stargate-and-battlestar-are-over

maybe they think that 'Syfy' will be able to show even MORE "reality" shows like Ghost Hunters, Cha$e, Estate of Panic, etc

*sighs*

at least Brighthouse finally picked up the Chiller channel

[sparkindarkness.livejournal.com]

It just boggles the mind on so many levels. They may as well just outright change the channel to full on mainstream

[seryan.livejournal.com]

Because trying to make science fiction appeal to the general audience always works so well.

[sparkindarkness.livejournal.com]

And yet they keep on trying it

[brownkitty.livejournal.com]

Damn, guess I'm going to have to watch the good stuff on the 'net and read more.

They're not going to pretend to be loyal to me, I'm going elsewhere. Science fiction isn't exactly everywhere, but it's not THAT hard to find once you know how to look.

[sparkindarkness.livejournal.com]

That's what the net is for :)

Exactly if they're going to treat us with contempt then we don't owe them anything

*geeky and proud of it*

[suryaofvulcan.livejournal.com]

*eyeroll*

I sometimes wonder if these people actually research their audience, or if they just perpetuate the same old stereotypes out of ignorance. I've only been going to sci-fi conventions for a couple of years, but I've noticed the majority of the die-hard fans are not geeky, dysfunctional, anti-social boys. In fact they're predominantly people just like me - intelligent, articulate, middle-aged and FEMALE.

In other words, the people they think they want to attract are already watching.

Re: *geeky and proud of it*

[sparkindarkness.livejournal.com]

I don't wonder - because cleaerly they don't. They're repeating the same die-hard tropes that were inaccurate years ago.

[phurie-dae.livejournal.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,”

I've been watching sci-fi since I was four years old with pink shoes and ribbons in my hair (Star Trek TOS, I love you). I have never once been ashamed of admitting it. Apparently I was TOTALLY wrong to feel that way!

[sparkindarkness.livejournal.com]

Exactly - why go out of their way to insult their entire fanbase - including people who don't fit their extremely out of date stereotype?

[home-of-usher.livejournal.com]

I've noticed your Sparkindarkness journal is much more ranty these days. Not sure I approve. I love the frequent postings and the many more comments and debates going on, but I miss the stories. How are your injuries doing these days btw?

[sparkindarkness.livejournal.com]

Largely it's because I've left a lot of my forums so my rantiness has come here

The injuries are largely healed though I'm not entirely happy about my left knee

I despair of my stories at times. I've had a compelte funk. I tried to re-read to get my inspiration back working but I had a complete attack of "OMG it's all AWFUL" and just hated everything I wrote, which is annoying to say the least. I have been writing snippets and even full chapters but I can't see how to connect them to what i have now and it's driving me mad, I want them tro move on to the next stage but I can't see how to get them TO that stage.

I'm going to have to force something. even if it's awful at least I can make the step forwards rather than this arid fic-less time.

Maybe, just maybe, I have a brand new fic which I've been avoiding because it DISTRACTS but maybe writing SOMETHING will be better than not writing at all

[home-of-usher.livejournal.com]

I know how that goes.>.> I am also guilty of not writing and being attacked by a severe case of "no one seems to care" killer apathy. Bah. But I'm trying to drum up more visitors and readers for my chats from Deviant art when I post artwork of my scenes and characters.

So yes. I need to force myself to write something or post another chat scene in which I will have to force myself to fix one.

I'm glad you're getting better though and I hope your left knee improves. Knees are horribly finicky and slow to heal things.

[stormcat.livejournal.com]

"Syfy" always sounds to me like a cutesy name for a venereal disease.

ETA: Just saw solid_squid's comment. Gah.

[sparkindarkness.livejournal.com]

lol it just shows how effective their branding is, doesn't it?