Syfy was an Australian pay television channel dedicated to science fiction and fantasy television shows and movies. The channel was launched on 1 January 2014, replacing SF.
On 31 December 2019, it was replaced with Fox Sci-Fi.
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.
On 14 February 2017, the channel was made available in HD for Fetch TV customers.
On 17 September 2017, the channel received a new logo alongside refreshed branding as part of an international overhaul of the brand by NBCUniversal.
On 7 November 2019, Foxtel announced that Fox Sci-Fi would replace Syfy on 17 December 2019. The network continued on Fetch TV until the stroke of midnight on 31 December 2019.
Programming Programming featured classic and new science fiction and fantasy television shows and movies.
First-run Programming Original Programming Haunting: Australia
Acquired Programming 12 Monkeys (seasons 1–2) Channel Zero Continuum (seasons 3–4) Dark Matter Defiance (seasons 2-3) Face Off Geeks who Drink Haven (seasons 4–5) Killjoys Misfits (season 5) The Magicians The Shannara Chronicles Warehouse 13 (season 5) Z Nation (seasons 1–2)
Second-run Programming Alphas Angel Battlestar Galactica Battlestar Galactica (miniseries) Buffy the Vampire Slayer Charmed Destination Truth Doctor Who Eureka Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files Ghost Hunters International Grimm (season 1) Haven (seasons 1–3) Hollywood Treasure Knight Rider (2008 TV series) Legend Quest Misfits (seasons 1–4) Orphan Black Paranormal Witness Primeval Red Dwarf Sanctuary Stargate Atlantis Stargate SG-1 Star Trek: The Next Generation Star Trek: Voyager Torchwood Warehouse 13 (seasons 1–4)
Movies 10.5 500 MPH Storm American Warships Arachnoquake Battledogs Bigfoot CAT.8 Category 7: The End of the World The 12 Disasters of Christmas The Poseidon Adventure Dawn of the Dead Eve of Destruction Exploding Sun Ice Road Terror Jabberwock Metal Shifters Miami Magma Panic at Rock Island Sharknado Stonados Tasmanian Devils
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 did not hold the rights to any of the Star Trek franchise, while its predecessor did. This has changed and Deep Space Nine, Enterprise, The Next Generation, The Original Series and Voyager has made their way onto the channel.
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