The backlash against NBC-Universals rebranding of “Sci Fi” has opened a new front: LA-based graphic designer Aaron Harvey has started up a “No Syfy” website and Facebook group.
In a parody of Syfy’s meaningless new tagline “Imagine Greater” Harvey calls on NBCU to “Imagine Better” and declares,
Instead of making inane branding changes that you say were approved by fans, why not address the quality of the channel, the addition of wrestling and ghost hunting, the dearth of real science fiction programming? Programming that would make you money.
Amusingly, NBC-U may have anticipated some of the blowback, as it appears they registered “SyfySucks.com” on January 30, via Corporation Services Company— which also holds registration for Syfy.com. Stupidly, however, they failed to lock down “Syfy.org” or “Syfy.net”— both of which are currently generic landing pages.
Thanks for pointing that out! Struck that from the entry.
The store seems to be gone…he must have thought better of it.
Just found something really interesting!!! Apparently Landor, the guys who we all thought were behind the name change, just came out and are distancing themselves from the horrific name.
“We aren’t responsible for THAT!”
Take a look:
http://dennytu.wordpress.com/2009/03/25/landor-distancing-self-from-syfy-naming-credit/
If your branding agency doesn’t want to be associated with the name, what does it tell you about the decision? SPREAD the word and this link, more people need to see it!!! Somehow this is not being mentioned in the press!!!
@J Keeter
Thanks for the head’s up! Interesting that Landor Associates — which were listed in all the news as being involved in the rebrand is now denying involvement in the name selection. Ouch, that must hurt for NBC-U’s internal team. I’m wondering now if Landor didn’t advise against this particular name (or are going to claim they did?)
One addendum: the site above seems to have reprinted a bit of research I did about “SyfySucks.com”, changing only one word from the original blog posting. While I don’t mind being quoted as a resource, attribution is usually a nice idea when re-using someone else’s content.