Launched 1 January 2014 Country Australia Foxtel Play Channel 123 Fetch TV Channel 109 Timeshift service Syfy + 2 | Slogan Imagine Greater Language English Foxtel Go Channel 123 Founded 2014 Motto Imagine Greater | |
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Owned by Universal Networks International
(NBCUniversal) Picture format 576i (16:9 SDTV)
1080i (16:9 HDTV) Sister channel(s) 13th Street; CNBC Australia; E!; Style Network; Universal Channel; Euronews Profiles | ||
Syfy is an Australian subscription television channel dedicated to science fiction and fantasy television shows and movies. The channel launched on 1 January 2014, replacing the closing channel SF.
Contents
History
In August 2013, it was announced that Foxtel had failed to complete negotiations with the TV1 General Entertainment Partnership (of which NBCUniversal was a part member) for a new carriage deal for their channel SF (an Australian science fiction channel), and would ultimately replace it with another science fiction dedicated channel once SF's carriage deal had expired. It was announced in September that Syfy, wholly owned by NBCUniversal, would replace SF in early 2014.
Syfy is part of the international brand Syfy Universal and is wholly owned and operated by Universal Networks International (a division of NBCUniversal). In contrast, SF was an Australian exclusive brand with only 33.33% owned by NBCUniversal (with the remaining shares equally being held by CBS Studios International and Sony Pictures Television).
On 15 April 2014, Syfy launched on Australian IPTV provider Fetch TV.
Programming
Programming features classic and new science fiction and fantasy television shows and movies.
Original Programming
Acquired Programming
Second-Run Programming
Movies
Criticism
Syfy has come under criticism from Foxtel subscribers for a number of programming related issues, specifically regarding the high number of repeats and the low quality of the Syfy programming. Significantly, Syfy Australia does not hold the rights to any of the Star Trek franchise, while its predecessor did.