Syfy was originally launched as the Sci-Fi Channel on September 24, 1992. Its original visual identity borrowed heavily from classic films and cliches of the genre.
Sci Fi[]
1999–2002[]
Designer:
Unknown
Typography:
Century Gothic
Launched:
March 19, 1999
Sci-Fi Channel was renamed as Sci Fi in March 1999, dropping the hyphen and the word "CHANNEL" from the name. The rebranding was dubbed "Sci Fi 2.0".
A new look for Sci Fi was launched on December 2, 2002 with the launch of the miniseries Taken. The new look was created with help from Lambie-Nairn of London. The network also launched a new image campaign with the tagline "If", which is spelled with the first "I" and the "F" of the channel name. The logo uses a modified version of the Saturn mark.
On March 16, 2009, NBCUniversal announced that Sci Fi would be rebranded as Syfy. Network officials also noted that, unlike the generic term "sci fi", which represents the entire genre, the term "Syfy" as a sensational spelling 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. This is empathized by the abandonment of the planet motif.
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 2009 for $250,000. The new name was rolled out on screen on July 7, 2009. The on-air-look for the channel was developed by the London-based studios Proud Creative and ManvsMachine.
On May 11, 2017, Syfy unveiled a new logo, a new slogan ("It's a Fan Thing"), and new imaging, which adopted on June 19 in honor of the channel's 25th anniversary. The new branding aims to re-position the channel back towards fans of the fantasy and sci-fi genres; network head Chris McCumber explained that the new logo was meant to be a "badge" that could be used across its array of programming. Syfy also planned to place a larger focus on its genre news division Syfy Wire, disclosing the possibility of extending the website to television as well.
Upcoming programming: The Haunted | Nightbreed | Night Gallery | Nightside | Spin | Stranger in a Strange Land
Past miniseries: 5ive Days to Midnight | Alice | Ascension | Battlestar Galactica | Childhood's End | Dark Kingdom: The Dragon King | Earthsea | Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars | Firestarter: Rekindled | Frank Herbert's Dune | Frank Herbert's Children of Dune | The Lost Room | Neverland | The Phantom | Riverworld | Taken | The Triangle | Tin Man | Treasure Island