Den of Geek looks at the rise and fall of the Sci Fi–now (gag) Syfy–Channel. The niche network that once aired some pretty great science fiction series (Farscape, Battlestar Galactica) now relies on a heavy rotation of cheesy reality series and wrestling. The few original series that remain on the schedule can be called science fiction only in the loosest sense of the term, much in the same way that Kraft Singles can loosely be called cheese. The blandification of the Sci Fi Channel was probably inevitable, given the brutal economics of cable television and the inherently small audience for true-blue science fiction. The rise of reality TV simply hastened its demise.
It’s not as if geeks have nothing to watch. Quality genre shows like Fringe continue to attract rabid followings (even if the ratings aren’t great). And through the magic of streaming video, we’ll eventually be able to drown ourselves in the cult classics from decades past. But at a time when just about every niche interest has found a home on the entertainment spectrum, it’s a little sad to note that we nerds have to content ourselves with the bones pop culture tosses us.
It’s not limited to the “SyFy” channel, and some would probably say that there are worse examples of channels originally conceived to fit a specific niche losing that niche in favor of chasing viewers rather than serving their core purpose. I know American Movie Classics is regularly derided as they haven’t regularly shown classic movies on that channel in years. Discovery’s gone back and forth, and I’m now horrified that it seems to be “All American Chopper, All The Time” these days, with most of its programming that originally brought me to the channel being moved to the less available Animal Planet. And don’t even get me started on The Learning Channel.
I think it’s inevitable for most niche channels, unless the channel is consistently run by people committed more to the niche than to making money and maximizing viewers. Even in good economic times, that can be too much to expect.