Syfy (in some countries named Sci Fi) is a family of pay television channels that broadcast programming owned or licensed by entertainment NBCUniversal around the world using the Syfy brand which is focused on science fiction, fantasy, horror, supernatural and paranormal programming. The first such channel was launched in the United States on September 24, 1992. It was originally named "Sci-Fi Channel". In 1995 it kicked off in the United Kingdom, followed by the Netherlands and Belgium in 1996.
 Syfy’s Current Logo used since 2017 | |
| Network | NBCUniversal International Networks |
|---|---|
| Programming | |
| Picture format | 1080i HDTV (downscaled to 16:9 576i for the SDTV feed) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | NBCUniversal |
| Sister channels | 13th Street CNBC Europe DreamWorks Channel E! Movies 24 Sky News |
| History | |
| Former names | Sci-Fi Channel |
| Links | |
| Website | www.syfy.com |
The name Syfy was officially adopted on July 7, 2009, and most were renamed Syfy Universal by 2010. Exceptions to this renaming scheme included Syfy Channels in USA, Germany, France, Latin America, Spain, Portugal and future Syfy Channels in Canada, Cyprus, Israel, Nordic countries, South Africa, Türkiye and now defunct and replaced SF Australia (formerly Sci Fi Channel Australia) and Syfy UK, where the channel is simply called Syfy. Sci Fi Channels in Poland, Serbia, Slovenia and future Sci Fi Channels in Greece, Malta and now defunct Sci Fi Channel in Romania, became Sci Fi Universal due to syfy having a profane meaning in Polish. In 2017 the channel got rebranded but the Universal suffix was already dropped.[1]
The list of Syfy or Sci Fi channels around the world
edit| Channel | Country or region | Launch year | Shutdown year |
| Syfy, formerly Sci-Fi Channel | United States | 1992 | |
| Syfy (British and Irish TV channel) | United Kingdom and Ireland | October 1, 1995 | July 26, 2022 (Channel rebrands as Sky Sci-fi) |
| Syfy (Dutch TV channel) | Netherlands and Belgium (Flanders) | October 1, 1996 – 1998 as Sci-Fi Channel, re-launched on March 30, 2007 | July 1, 2016 |
| Syfy (German TV channel) | Germany and Switzerland | September 1, 2003 | |
| Syfy (French TV channel) | France | December 16, 2005 | |
| Syfy (Spanish TV channel) | Spain and Andorra | June 1, 2006 | |
| SF (Australian TV channel) (part ownership) | Australia | December 1, 2006[2] | December 31, 2013, replaced by Syfy in 2014 |
| Syfy (Latin American TV channel) | Latin America | April 1, 2007 | October 1, 2023 (replaced by USA Network (second era)) |
| Sci Fi (Polish TV channel) | Poland | December 1, 2007 | |
| Syfy (Italy) (as a block on Steel) | Italy | January 19, 2008 | January 1, 2013 |
| Sci Fi/Sci Fi HD (Japan) | Japan | April 1, 2008 | March 31, 2010 |
| Sci Fi (Romanian TV channel) | Romania | April 18, 2008[3] | December 31, 2011 |
| Syfy (Russian TV channel) | Russia | May 30, 2008 | February 28, 2013 |
| Syfy (Asian TV channel) | Asia | July 1, 2008 | July 1, 2017 |
| Syfy (Portuguese TV channel) | Portugal | December 6, 2008 | |
| Sci Fi (Balkans TV channel) | Serbia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Montenegro | October 1, 2009[4] | |
| Syfy (Australian TV channel) (wholly owned) | Australia | January 1, 2014, replaced SF | December 31, 2019 (replaced by Fox Sci-Fi)[5] |
| Syfy (MENA) | Middle East and North Africa | July 6, 2016[6] | 2019 |
See also
edit- CTV Sci-Fi Channel, a Canadian television channel that shows most of Sci-Fi Channel/Syfy's programming
References
edit- ^ Andrew Liptak (March 11, 2017). "The Syfy channel is rebooting with a new focus on science fiction fandom". The Verge.
- ^ "Australia To Get Its Own SciFi Channel". Slice of SciFi. October 18, 2006. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
- ^ "Două canale NBC Universal la noi: SCI FI și Universal Channel – Comanescu.ro". www.comanescu.ro. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
- ^ "Digital TV Europe.net - Sci Fi Channel to launch in Balkans". September 23, 2010. Archived from the original on September 23, 2010. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
- ^ Team, The IF (November 7, 2019). "Foxtel to launch murder-mystery, sci-fi channels as part of entertainment refresh". IF Magazine. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
- ^ "SyFy channel for MENA". June 9, 2016. Retrieved August 21, 2023.