Syfy | |
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Launched | September 24, 1992 |
Owned by | |
Picture format |
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Slogan | Imagine Greater |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Broadcast area | National |
Headquarters | New York City, New York, United States |
Formerly called |
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Sister channel(s) | |
Website | www |
Availability
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Satellite | |
DirecTV | 244 (HD/SD) |
Dish Network |
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C-Band – H2H/4DTV | AMC-18 – Channel 211 |
Cable | |
Comcast Cable |
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IPTV | |
Apple TV | tvOS Application |
AT&T U-verse |
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Verizon Fios |
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Streaming media | |
Sling TV | Internet Protocol television |
PlayStation Vue | Internet Protocol television |
DirecTV Now | Internet Protocol television |
Syfy (formerly Sci-Fi Channel and Sci Fi) is an American basic cable and satellite television channel that is owned by the NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment Group division of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast. The channel features science fiction, fantasy, horror, supernatural, paranormal, drama, and reality programming.
As of February 2015, approximately 94.8 million American households (81.4 percent of households with television) receive Syfy.
In 1989, Boca Raton, Florida, communications attorney Mitchell Rubenstein and his wife Laurie Silvers devised the concept for the Sci-Fi Channel, and planned to have it begin broadcasting in December 1990, but lacked the resources to launch it. 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 films and television series that both studios had in their vaults, including Universal's Dracula, Frankenstein, and the Rod Serling TV series Night Gallery, along with Paramount's Star Trek. Star Trek's creator Gene Roddenberry and author Isaac Asimov were among those on the initial advisory board, but both had died by the time the channel finally launched on September 24, 1992. Rubenstein recalled: "The first thing that was on the screen was 'Dedicated to the memories of Isaac Asimov and Gene Roddenberry'."Leonard Nimoy was master of ceremonies at the channel's launch party, held at the Hayden Planetarium in Manhattan. Asimov's widow Janet and Roddenberry's widow Majel Barrett were both in attendance. The first program shown on the network was the film Star Wars (1977).