Syfy, in some countries named Sci Fi and stylized as SYFY, is a pay channel brand owned and operated by NBCUniversal International Networks that broadcasts in-house and acquired science fiction, fantasy, horror, supernatural and paranormal programming. Originally named the "Sci-Fi Channel" and first launched in the United States on September 24, 1992, it expanded to the United Kingdom 3 years later, followed by the Netherlands and Belgium a year after that, i.e. 1996.
The name Syfy was officially adopted on July 7, 2009, and most were renamed Syfy Universal during the early 2010s. Sci Fi Channels in Poland, Serbia, Slovenia and future Sci Fi Channels in Greece, Malta and the 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 and the Universal suffix was already dropped.
Global Syfy or Sci Fi channels
ChannelCountry or regionLaunch dateSyfyUnited States1992
Former channels ChannelCountry or regionLaunch yearShutdown yearSyfy (UK & Ireland)United Kingdom and Ireland1 October 199526 July 2022 (Channel rebrands as Sky Sci-Fi)Syfy (Germany)Germany and Switzerland1 September 200327 January 2026 (channel rebrands as Sky Sci-Fi) Syfy (France)France2 December 200517 March 2026 (channel rebrands as SciFi)Syfy (Spain)Spain and Andorra1 June 20061 October 2026 (channel rebrands as SciFi)Sci Fi (Poland)Poland1 December 20071 October 2026 (channel rebrands as SciFi)Syfy (Portugal)Portugal6 December 20081 October 2026 (channel rebrands as SciFi)Sci Fi (Balkans)Serbia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and Montenegro1 October 20091 October 2026 (channel rebrands as SciFi)Syfy (Netherlands)Netherlands and Belgium1 October 1996 – 1998 as Sci-Fi Channel, re-launched on 30 March 20071 July 2016SF (Australia) (part ownership)Australia1 December 200631 December 2013, replaced by Syfy in 2014Syfy (Latin America)Latin America1995 (block on USA Network)November 2001 (block on USA Network)1 April 20071 October 2023 (replaced by USA Network (second iteration))Syfy (Italy) (as a block on Steel)Italy19 January 20081 January 2013Sci Fi (Japan)Japan1 April 200831 March 2010Sci Fi Universal (Romania)Romania18 April 200831 December 2011Syfy (Russia)Russia30 May 200828 February 2013Syfy (Asia)Asia1 July 20081 July 2017Syfy (Australia) (wholly owned)Australia1 January 2014, replaced SF31 December 2019 (replaced by Fox Sci-Fi)Syfy (MENA)Middle East and North Africa6 July 20162019
See also CTV Sci-Fi Channel, a Canadian television channel that shows most of Sci-Fi Channel/Syfy's programming
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