Coordinates	34°03′″N118°15′″N
name	Syfy
logofile	Syfy.png
logosize	225px
slogan	Imagine Greater
launch	September 24, 1992
former names	Sci-Fi Channel (1992-1999)SCI FI (1999-2009)
picture format	480i (SDTV)1080i (HDTV)
owner	NBCUniversal (subsidiary of Comcast and General Electric)
president	Dave Howe
headquarters	New York, NY, United States
sister names	Chiller
web	http://www.syfy.com
sat serv 1	DirecTV
sat chan 1	Channel 244 (SD/HD)
sat serv 2	Dish Network
sat chan 2	Channel 122 (SD/HD), 9432
sat serv 3	C-Band
sat chan 3	Galaxy 14-Channel 1
sat serv 4	Meo Portugal
sat chan 4	Channel 68
sat serv 5	SKY Brasil
sat chan 5	Channel 46
sat serv 6	SKY Centroamérica and México
sat chan 6	Channel 209
sat serv 7	DirecTV (Latin America)
sat chan 7	Channel 221
sat serv 8	Digital+ (Spain)
sat chan 8	Channel 25
sat serv 9	Austar and Foxtel (Australia)
sat chan 9	Channel 125 and 165
cable chan 1	Varies by location
cable serv 2	Cox Cable
cable chan 2	Channel 59
cable serv 3	Virgin Media
cable chan 3	channel 135 (SD) Channel 165 (HD)
adsl serv 1	AT&T; U-verse
adsl chan 1	Channel 151 (SD) Channel 1151 (HD)
adsl serv 2	Verizon FiOS
adsl chan 2	Channel 180 (SD) Channel 680 (HD) }}

Syfy (; "si-fi"), formerly known as the Sci-Fi Channel and SCI FI, is an American cable television channel featuring reality, paranormal, supernatural, fantasy, horror, and science fiction programming. Launched on September 24, 1992, it is part of the entertainment conglomerate NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast and General Electric. The name Syfy was officially adopted on July 7, 2009.

History

The Sci-Fi Channel was devised in 1991 by Mitchell Rubenstein and Laurie Silvers, two entrepreneurs from Boca Raton, who currently own HomeTown Cable in South Florida. In March 1992 the concept was picked up by USA Networks, then a joint venture between Paramount Pictures and Universal Studios. The channel was seen as a natural fit with classic film and television series that both studios had in their vaults, including Rod Serling's ''Night Gallery'' (from Universal TV) and Paramount's ''Star Trek'' and classic Universal horror films such as ''Dracula'' and ''Frankenstein''. ''Star Trek'' creator Gene Roddenberry and author Isaac Asimov were among those on the advisory board.

In 1994, Paramount was sold to Viacom, followed by Seagram's purchase of a controlling stake in MCA (of which Universal was a subsidiary) from Matsushita the next year. In 1997, Viacom sold its stake in USA Networks to Universal, who spun off all its television assets to Barry Diller the next year. Three years later, Diller would sell these assets back to Universal, by then a subsidiary of Vivendi SA (at the time known as Vivendi Universal). Vivendi's film, television, and cable TV assets were then merged with General Electric's NBC to form NBC Universal in 2004. A high definition version of the channel launched on October 3, 2007 on DirecTV.

Rebranding

On March 16, 2009, Sci Fi announced that it would be changing its name to Syfy, to end confusion over how to capitalize and stylize their name and as part of an on-going rebranding effort. Network officials also noted that, unlike the generic term "sci fi", which represents the entire science fiction genre, the term "Syfy" can be protected by trademark and therefore would be easier to market on other goods or services without fear of confusion with other companies' products. The only significant previous use of the term "Syfy" in relation to science fiction was by the website Syfy Portal, which became Airlock Alpha after selling the brand to NBC Universal (represented by a shell company) in February.

Reaction to the new name has been largely negative, with people often pronouncing Syfy as "Siffy", "Skiffy", or "See Fee" to make fun of the name change. The parody news anchor Stephen Colbert made fun of the name change by giving the channel a "Tip of the Hat" for "spelling the name the way it's pronounced" and noting that "the tide is turning in my long fought battle against the insidious 'soft C'". The new name took effect on July 7, 2009. Syfy is in the process of making more reality shows and edging farther away from science fiction programming, and has been making a conscious effort to do this since the 1990s, also to significant negative response.

The rebranding efforts at NBC Universal's Sci Fi Channels worldwide resulted in most rebranding as ''Syfy'' or ''Syfy Universal'', however, over one-third of the channels did not take on "Syfy" as any part of their names: Australia's remained the ''Sci Fi Channel'', channels in Japan and the Philippines rebranded to or were replaced by ''Universal Channel'', while each of the channels in Poland, Romania, Serbia, and Slovenia would become ''Sci Fi Universal''. ''Syfy'', in several languages, does not suggest imagination or science fiction so much as the syphilitic.

Programming

Syfy's programming includes original television movies, miniseries, and series. In the past, the channel concentrated on classic science fiction (SciFi) shows. However NBC has altered its schedule in the past few years to expand the lineup, and the channel now airs shows including WWE's Smackdown, changing from the original niche programming to offerings towards more general-entertainment.

It gained national prominence in 2003 with the airing of ''Steven Spielberg Presents: Taken'', which won the Emmy Award that year for best miniseries. In 2006, it also began including several non-science-fiction programs in its line-up, such as ''Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'', ''WWE NXT'' and ''WCG Ultimate Gamer''.

Syfy has aired anime programming off and on throughout its history. It first began airing English dubbed anime films and original video animations in the early 1990s, although the programs were often edited in order to fit the market pressures typically placed on basic cable. It was the first to show the Streamline Pictures English dubs of the films ''Robot Carnival'', ''Lensman'', and ''Akira'', as well as airing Central Park Media's ''Dominion: Tank Police'', ''Gall Force'', and ''Project A-ko''. Eventually the channel stopped airing anime, until June 11, 2007, when it began airing a weekly 2-hour programming block called "Ani-Monday". Intended to directly compete with Cartoon Network's Adult Swim, the block features English dubs of various anime series licensed by Manga Entertainment. During February 2008, the channel also aired anime on Tuesday nights in a second programming block. In July 2009, Syfy announced that they had renewed and expanded their licensing agreement with Manga Entertainment to continue the "Ani-Monday" block, as well as to add a similar two-hour block of horror anime, also called "Ani-Monday", to their sister channel Chiller.

On April 13, 2010, World Wrestling Entertainment announced that they had signed a multi-year agreement that would move ''WWE SmackDown'' from MyNetworkTV to Syfy, starting on October 1, 2010 at 8:00PM Eastern/7:00PM Central. The WWE says that the addition of ''WWE SmackDown'' to Syfy programming will assist with their targeting of young male and female audiences.

Syfy gained worldwide attention with its original series ''Battlestar Galactica''. The show gained many different opinions of praise from popular news organizations like The New York Times and Entertainment Weekly, to influental people like Stephen King. The show was so widely accepted that the United Nations invited the main cast to a retrospective and discussion. ''Battlestar Galactica'' was aired from 2004–2009, with 4 seasons and 75 episodes.

Sci Fi Pictures original films

Developed by Chris Regina, Ray Cannella, and Thomas Vitale, Sci Fi Pictures original films are typically independently-made B-movies with production budgets of $1 to 2 million each. They usually premiere on Saturday nights. They are also one of the sponsors for the Coalition for Freedom of Information. These films are occasionally retitled for their DVD releases.

Upcoming series/pilots

''America's Smartest Kids'' - Reality television series which pits America's smartest kids against each other to "invent a better future". ''Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome'' - A prequel series set during the First Cylon War, which takes place between the series ''Caprica'' and ''Battlestar Galactica''. ''Change the Day You Die'' - Reality television series which follows a group of individuals as they are shown how their bad habits will cause their deaths in the future, and follows the journey they must go through to change those bad habits. ''Culture Shock With Tommy Lee'' - Reality television series which follows Tommy Lee as he investigates various secret societies around the world. ''Dinner With Deepak'' - Reality television series which follows Dr Deepak Chopra as he dines each week with three high profile dinner guests. ''Hi Tech Hoaxes'' - Reality television series which follows a group of hoaxers and pranksters who each week perform hoaxes on unsuspecting people based on requests from viewers. ''In the Dark'' - The series follows the adventures of an amateur ghost hunting team who continually find their efforts frustrated by their own incompetence. ''Me and Lee'' - A down on his luck twenty year old goes into hospital for back surgery, only to meet Lee Major. It doesnt take too long before he is being talked into going back to Lee's lab and becoming a bionic man. ''Monster Man'' - Reality television series which follows Cleve Hall and his family business of making monster and alien props for Hollywood. ''Overthunk'' - Reality television series which follows two teams as they compete against each other to design, build and set off "massive chain-reaction machines". ''Stunts Unlimites'' - Reality television series which takes the viewers behind the scenes and reveals exactly what goes into creating big stunts for Hollywood. ''Three Inches'' - After being struck by lightning Walter Spackman disovers he has developed a super power; the ability to move an object with his mind, but only over a distance of three inches. ''Tyler Shields'' - Reality television series which documents the work life of unconventional photographer Tyler Shields.

Media

Website

The channel's website launched in 1995 under the name "The Dominion" at SciFi.com. In 2000, it dropped the name "The Dominion.". It was one of the first large-scale, publicly available, well-advertised, and non-portal based Web sites. In addition to information on the channel's programming, it covers science fiction in general. The site has won a Webby Award and a Flash Forward Award. From 2000–2005, it published original science fiction short stories in a section called "Sci Fiction", edited by Ellen Datlow, who won a 2005 Hugo Award for her work there. The stories themselves won a World Fantasy Award; the first Theodore Sturgeon Award for online fiction (for Lucius Shepard's novella "Over Yonder"), and four of the Science Fiction Writers of America's Nebula Awards, including the first for original online fiction (for Linda Nagata's novella "Goddesses"). As part of the channel's rebranding in 2009, the URL was changed to Syfy.com.

On April 22, 2006, the site launched Sci Fi Pedia as a commercial wiki on topics including anime, comics, science fiction, fantasy, horror, fandom, games and toys, UFOs, genre-related art and audio, and the paranormal. In 2009, Sci Fi Pedia was shut down without explanation.

''Science Fiction Weekly''

''Science Fiction Weekly'' was an online magazine started and edited by Craig Engler and Brooks Peck on August 15, 1995. In April 1996 it began appearing exclusively on "The Dominion" as part of a partnership with the site, before being sold to the Sci Fi Channel completely in 1999. The publication covered various aspects of science fiction, including news, reviews, original art, and interviews, until it merged with Sci Fi Wire in January 2009. It was last edited by Scott Edelman.

''Sci Fi Magazine''

''Sci Fi Magazine'' is the channel's official magazine. As of 2005, it was edited by Scott Edelman.

Blastr

Blastr (formerly Sci Fi Wire), an adjunct of the Syfy website, is the daily news wire edited by Patrick Lee. It covers news related to science fiction, fantasy and supernatural-themed entertainment, including films, television, games, books, fandom and rumors. ''Blastr'' is frequently cited as a source of breaking news by other Web sites and by publications as varied as the ''New York Post'' and ''TV Guide''.

Ratings

In 2008, Syfy, then the Sci Fi Channel, averaged a 1.0 Household rating; 242,000 Adults 18-34 (up 4% vs 2007); 616,000 Adults 18-49 (up 5% vs 2007); 695,000 Adults 25-54 (up 6% vs 2007) and 1,278,000 total viewers (up 7% vs 2007). It saw two years of consecutive growth among female audiences, with a 12% increase among women 25-54, a 14% jump in women 18-49 and 6% in women 18-34. The channel also was ranked among the top ten watched channels for male viewers ages 18–54, and women ages 25–54 (#10).

For 2010, Syfy averaged 1.199 million viewers, down 6% from 2009. In Adults 18-49 the channel averaged .539 million viewers, down 11% from 2009. For 2010 Syfy did not hold any of the Top 20 Primetime Original Series.

References

External links

Sci Fi charts its course for the future, ''Los Angeles Times'' - Interview with Dave Howe

Category:NBC Universal networks Category:Syfy Category:American television networks Category:English-language television stations in the United States Category:Television channels and stations established in 1992 Category:Former Viacom subsidiaries

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Coordinates	34°03′″N118°15′″N
name	Jason Gedrick
birth name	Jason Michael Gedroic
birth date	February 07, 1965
birth place	Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
occupation	Actor
spouse	Dana Lavas (1989-1997) }}

Jason Gedrick (born Jason Michael Gedroic on February 7, 1965, in Chicago, Illinois) is an American actor best known for his work on the television series ''Murder One'' and ''Boomtown'' and the motion picture ''Iron Eagle''.

Gedrick began his career as an extra in films such as ''Bad Boys'' (1983) and ''Risky Business'' (1983). After roles in ''The Heavenly Kid'' (1985), ''Iron Eagle'' (1986), Promised Land (1987) with director Michael Hoffman, ''Iron Eagle II'' (1988 in an uncredited role for the first few minutes of the movie), ''Born on the Fourth of July'' (1989), ''Backdraft'' (1991), and ''Crossing the Bridge'' (1992), Gedrick appeared in television series such as ''Class of '96'' (1993) and ''Sweet Justice'' (1994).

In 1994, Gedrick starred in the film ''The Force'' with Yasmine Bleeth and Kim Delaney.

Gedrick's big break was in Steven Bochco's innovative 1995 series ''Murder One''. The series followed the trial of Gedrick's character, bad-boy actor Neil Avedon, alleged to have murdered a 15-year-old girl. The series—which also starred such talent as Daniel Benzali, Patricia Clarkson, Mary McCormack, Dylan Baker, and Stanley Tucci—was a runaway success. Due to this, a second season was commissioned. Due to network concerns, the new season featured several small cases rather than one big one. Anthony LaPaglia stepped in to replace the cast such as Benzali, Tucci and Gedrick, who had left, and the series was canceled midway through its second season.

Gedrick's next major project was the three-hour TV movie ''The Third Twin'', a 1997 thriller based on the best-selling 1996 novel by British writer Ken Follett. Gedrick plays a university employee accused of rape, whose friend later discovers he has a twin—and actually several more twins cloned by an evil millionaire university donor and biomedical technology CEO (played to the hilt by Larry Hagman, a.k.a. ''Dallas'''s J. R. Ewing).

Gedrick next took roles in television series such as ''EZ Streets'' (1996), ''Falcone'' (2000) and ''The Beast'' (2001). None of which were major successes. In 1999, he guest starred on ''Ally McBeal'' as the "hot car wash guy". Also appearing in Mario Puzo's 1997 mini-series, ''The Last Don'' and in its sequel, ''The Last Don II''. Gedrick returned to television screens as Tom Turcotte in 2002's ''Boomtown''. The series, which also starred Donnie Wahlberg and Neal McDonough was a moderate success, but ratings plummeted - particularly after the second season suffered a format change, and ''Boomtown'' was cancelled.

In 2003, Gedrick played Andrew Luster, the infamous rapist in a Lifetime movie based on his trial, ''A Date with Darkness''. Gedrick is part of the cast of the 2006 NBC television series ''Windfall'' also starring Luke Perry and Gedrick's former ''Boomtown'' alumni, Lana Parrilla. In 2007 Gedrick again starred alongside Donnie Wahlberg in the A&E; original movie ''Kings of South Beach''. He is also the new love interest at Scavo's Pizzeria in ''Desperate Housewives'' Season 3 and 4 on ABC.

Private life

He is divorced and the father of three sons, Jian (b. 1991), Garrett (b. 1993) and Ty (b. 1997). He was married to the former Dana Lavas. He is a former resident of Brooklyn Heights, NY. He attended Gordon Tech High School in Chicago and Drake University in Des Moines, IA.

External links

Category:American television actors Category:American film actors Category:Actors from Chicago, Illinois Category:1965 births Category:Living people

fr:Jason Gedrick it:Jason Gedrick nl:Jason Gedrick no:Jason Gedrick pl:Jason Gedrick pt:Jason Gedrick