How to fix the Sci-Fi channel.

[zanejohnson]

for some reason sci fi is extremely loud on our cable, and clips at high volume.... no other channel does this...

wait wait, yes one other channel on the grid does the same exact thing...

channel 41 and channel 76

 

[bobeedee]

You could get 2 or 3 seasons of SciFI short stories ala Twilight Zone: "Robert Sheckley Theatre" anyone?

 

[FoBoT]

they need some reality shows , especially now, during the writers strike

 

[techs]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
they need some reality shows , especially now, during the writers strike

I don't think Sci-Fi has any writers.
They just let the actors say whatever they want.
It's cheaper that way.

 

[nageov3t]

I think ECW is on Sci-Fi simply because their parent corporation has nowhere else to put it.

I agree with some of the points, though. I'd love to see more "classic" Sci-Fi/B movies from the 50's and 60's.

and I'd love for that hotel room key miniseries they had a few months ago to get picked up into a real series ala BSG.

much as I love BSG, though, I'm glad it's coming to an end... they can only chase after earth for so long, and predetermining the end gives them the opportunity to wrap up the series and tie off any loose threads, as opposed to being canceled mid-season or something. but I'd love to see a BSG spin-off.

 

[daveymark]

serenity/firefly in HD = heaven

hop to it, scifi

 

[Modelworks]

Monsters HD on dish network is THE channel now for people that like scifi.
All your favorite horror/scifi movies converted from film direct to 1080i .

Scifi is getting worse and worse.
I watch atlantis on it and thats about it now.
The movies are on the same level as someone in film school.
Actually I think thats where they are getting the writers now, or so it seems.

When they started putting ECW on there I knew it was headed for bad times.

Its nothing like it was when it was sliders, farscape, stargate, etc
Even running some old series like dark shadows would boost its appeal.

I wonder if the management is taking pointers from the management of G4.

 

[Chryso]

I gave up on the sci fi channel about 5 years ago. They are morons.

 

[MovingTarget]

Originally posted by: loki8481
I think ECW is on Sci-Fi simply because their parent corporation has nowhere else to put it.

I agree with some of the points, though. I'd love to see more "classic" Sci-Fi/B movies from the 50's and 60's.

and I'd love for that hotel room key miniseries they had a few months ago to get picked up into a real series ala BSG.

much as I love BSG, though, I'm glad it's coming to an end... they can only chase after earth for so long, and predetermining the end gives them the opportunity to wrap up the series and tie off any loose threads, as opposed to being canceled mid-season or something. but I'd love to see a BSG spin-off.

Careful what you wish for. Galactica 1980 FTL.

Anyway, Skiffy has been going downhill since cancelling Farscape and putting on wrestling. WTF? They seem have to betrayed their core audience.

So what would I do? Bring back Farscape and possibly Firefly or another show by Joss Whedon. They also need more Trek. Forget wrestling like a bad dream. Apologize for it. We could do well with some resurrected Futurama and less of the monster of the week films. Some more Heroes/Jericho could do some good. Heck, even The Tick live action series would be better than what they show now. We can dream...

 

[Exterous]

They had such a good thing going with SG1, Atlantis and BSG on the same night and then killed it just as quickly as it came

 

[rpanic]

WTF Thanksgiving and all SCIFI is showing is Ghost Hunters, that?s why that station sucks balls, they might as well mix it up with some wrestling to add the cherry to the turd cake that is the SCIFI channel.

 

[SlickSnake]

Originally posted by: rpanic
WTF Thanksgiving and all SCIFI is showing is Ghost Hunters, that?s why that station sucks balls, they might as well mix it up with some wrestling to add the cherry to the turd cake that is the SCIFI channel.

Yea, no doubt those guys on Ghost Hunters get a crappy residual percentage on how often they show G.H. so they dump it into a time slot they then get advertisers to pay out the wazzo for. Like over a holiday. That's why. It just shows how far down Sci/Fi has actually fallen, and it can't get back up.

They won't show wrestling in these expensive holiday advertising time slots because the residuals would be horrible.

The Thanksgiving management circle jerk at Sci/Fi channel goes off as scheduled. :thumbsdown:

 

[Lounatik]

Originally posted by: techs

Originally posted by: FoBoT
they need some reality shows , especially now, during the writers strike

I don't think Sci-Fi has any writers.
They just let the actors say whatever they want.
It's cheaper that way.

Ha ha! I like it! So true!


Peace

Lounatik

 

[FallenHero]

Originally posted by: Exterous
They had such a good thing going with SG1, Atlantis and BSG on the same night and then killed it just as quickly as it came

No shit! That was the EVENT at college with my friends...watching that and then getting to the bars as quickly as possible. We planned around sci-fi friday...and then it just stopped. I never understood WHY they would do that. It was PERFECT.

 

[ViRGE]

Originally posted by: rpanic
WTF Thanksgiving and all SCIFI is showing is Ghost Hunters, that?s why that station sucks balls, they might as well mix it up with some wrestling to add the cherry to the turd cake that is the SCIFI channel.

It gets worse. Do you know what movie they're playing tomorrow afternoon?

Pirates of the Caribbean.

That's not even close to sci-fi/fantasy. SciFi is turning in to USA2.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: ViRGE

Originally posted by: rpanic
WTF Thanksgiving and all SCIFI is showing is Ghost Hunters, that?s why that station sucks balls, they might as well mix it up with some wrestling to add the cherry to the turd cake that is the SCIFI channel.

It gets worse. Do you know what movie they're playing tomorrow afternoon?

Pirates of the Caribbean.

That's not even close to sci-fi/fantasy. SciFi is turning in to USA2.

i'd rather see that there than some of the real turds they normally play.

 

[Oceandevi]

It just needs more godzilla.

SEE godzilla is so damn scary hes the best!

 

[Throckmorton]

Originally posted by: PottedMeat

Originally posted by: techs

Originally posted by: PottedMeat
Why would they ever run real science documentaries - it's called SciFi.

I wonder how much $$$ those one shot animal/disaster/creature of the week movies brings in. Must be far more than a long running series of shows. Then again SciFi probably gets a tiny fraction of NBC-Universal's budget. I'd bet paying to show House and the Law and Order series on USA rivals SciFi's entire budget.

At least its SCIENCE. As opposed to Fantasies like Legend of Earth/Sea and other fantasie cr*p they show.
Is ANYONE really excited about this years miniseries "event" Tin Man?

I've always thought of Science Fiction and Fantasy as going together. Keep the black hole and space exploration documentaries to the discovery/science channel. I wouldn't mind a few post-apocalyptic wasteland movies.

No, fantasy has absolutely nothing to do with science fiction, and should not be on a network called "The Science Fiction Channel". The only reason you think they go together is that the media keeps cramming down your throat the idea that "pencil neck geeks like you love both of these things so they go together".

Of course fantasy is better than the monster crap. What motivates them to keep making those movies?

 

[DangerAardvark]

Because a shitty movie starring one of the untalented Baldwin brothers made for a thousand bucks behind a 7-11 on a Sunday afternoon will still draw enough of an audience to be profitable.

 

[MaxDepth]

Unfortunately, it has a lot to with money.

The channel is owned by who, Vivendi? Who in turn is part of a large conglomerate Vivendi Universal, right? Conglomerations do not look to have loss leaders in any sector they own. Not even news, which at one time was supposed to the ethical loss for a broadcasting company.

Second issue: sci-fi and fantasy shows/movies are special effect heavy. What was that sci-fi original about a prison that was like a rotating cube with deadly options if you picked the wrong door? Basically that was a locked room myster with the least amount of effects. For Sci-fi, it was highly bankable because the special effects budget was extremely low.

Yet any other - spaceships to dragons - each of these easily cost 4-8 million just on post-production green screen effects. Hence, it is cheaper to high a Baldwin than an effects team.

Also, HD is not a panacea for any of the older stuff. Any movies not made digitally will not enjoy 1080i or p. Basically, an old movie will just look better in widescreen and then best on a larger screen.

So with all these negatives, how can the scifi channel make it in a content market?

Tell me if these ideas apeal to you...
1. Non-prime time should have the cheaper, old TV shows like Twilight zone, lost in space, even the wild, wild west (it had futuristic themes in it) - these shows are for the stay at home, people who are home sick, or the Tivo crowd, who are fans of a particular show.
2. Prime time: Show second run NBC/Universal/Vivendi shows. This includes but not limited to, shows that are currently on TV but will be a season behind. Show the first season of Heroes as an example.
3. Also, try giving the viewing audience a more international taste of programming. Subtitle or translate foreign sci-fi TV shows. Hey, what nerd here in the US wouldn't like to brag that they found the next Red Dwarf or Doctor Who in the US?

It boggles the mind how screwed up Sci-fi is. I think because they don't do enough marketing to let regular people think they can enjoy sci-fi/fantasy TV. After all, Lost is just Fantasy Island, right?

 

[eplebnista]

Originally posted by: DangerAardvark
Because a shitty movie starring one of the untalented Baldwin brothers made for a thousand bucks behind a 7-11 on a Sunday afternoon will still draw enough of an audience to be profitable.

Sad but true. :beer:

 

[Engraver]

I thought Farscape was a good show.

 

[zinfamous]

was there ever a decent production broadcast on, or even produced by the Sci Fi channel? Honestly, I think the network should have sunk before it ever left the boardroom.

 

[Jeff7]

Second issue: sci-fi and fantasy shows/movies are special effect heavy. What was that sci-fi original about a prison that was like a rotating cube with deadly options if you picked the wrong door? Basically that was a locked room myster with the least amount of effects. For Sci-fi, it was highly bankable because the special effects budget was extremely low.

Yet any other - spaceships to dragons - each of these easily cost 4-8 million just on post-production green screen effects. Hence, it is cheaper to high a Baldwin than an effects team.
[/quote]Hey, MST3K did bluescreen effects, with spaceships and talking robots on a shoestring budget.

 

[gar3555]

Originally posted by: MaxDepth
Unfortunately, it has a lot to with money.

The channel is owned by who, Vivendi? Who in turn is part of a large conglomerate Vivendi Universal, right? Conglomerations do not look to have loss leaders in any sector they own. Not even news, which at one time was supposed to the ethical loss for a broadcasting company.

Second issue: sci-fi and fantasy shows/movies are special effect heavy. What was that sci-fi original about a prison that was like a rotating cube with deadly options if you picked the wrong door? Basically that was a locked room myster with the least amount of effects. For Sci-fi, it was highly bankable because the special effects budget was extremely low.

Yet any other - spaceships to dragons - each of these easily cost 4-8 million just on post-production green screen effects. Hence, it is cheaper to high a Baldwin than an effects team.

Also, HD is not a panacea for any of the older stuff. Any movies not made digitally will not enjoy 1080i or p. Basically, an old movie will just look better in widescreen and then best on a larger screen.

So with all these negatives, how can the scifi channel make it in a content market?

Tell me if these ideas apeal to you...
1. Non-prime time should have the cheaper, old TV shows like Twilight zone, lost in space, even the wild, wild west (it had futuristic themes in it) - these shows are for the stay at home, people who are home sick, or the Tivo crowd, who are fans of a particular show.
2. Prime time: Show second run NBC/Universal/Vivendi shows. This includes but not limited to, shows that are currently on TV but will be a season behind. Show the first season of Heroes as an example.
3. Also, try giving the viewing audience a more international taste of programming. Subtitle or translate foreign sci-fi TV shows. Hey, what nerd here in the US wouldn't like to brag that they found the next Red Dwarf or Doctor Who in the US?

It boggles the mind how screwed up Sci-fi is. I think because they don't do enough marketing to let regular people think they can enjoy sci-fi/fantasy TV. After all, Lost is just Fantasy Island, right?

The Cube?