SF (Australian TV channel)

Last updated

SF
SF Channel Australia logo.png
CountryAustralia
Programming
Language(s)English
Picture format 576i (SDTV 16:9)
Ownership
Owner Sony Pictures Television
NBCUniversal
CBS Studios International [1]
ParentTV1 General Entertainment Partnership
Sister channels TV1
History
Launched1 December 2006
23 July 2012
(relaunch; as SF)
Closed31 December 2013
Replaced by Syfy
Former namesSci Fi Channel (2006–2012)

SF (formerly Sci Fi Channel) was an Australian subscription channel that aired science fiction, fantasy and related programs. It was available on Foxtel, Austar and Optus Television subscription platforms.

Contents

In 2012, the channel rebranded from Sci Fi to SF. [2] The channel used a world-exclusive version of the "Syfy" branding, SF being a joint venture between NBCUniversal (the owners of the Syfy brand), Sony Pictures Television and CBS Studios International.

On 31 December 2013, SF ceased broadcasting and closed, being replaced by an Australian version of Syfy in 2014.

Programming

SF aired re-runs such as: Doctor Who , Star Trek , Medium , Buffy the Vampire Slayer , and Charmed . It has also had the first Australian run of shows such as Defiance , Lost Girl , Continuum , Eureka , Alphas , and Ghost Hunters International .

History

Sci Fi went live at 6 am on 1 December 2006. SF originally used the same branding and packaging as the United States Sci Fi channel of the same name but had its own schedule and programming. It aired popular shows such as Doctor Who, The X-Files , Buffy , Charmed , the original and reimagined Battlestar Galactica series, Medium , and the Star Trek and Stargate franchises.

Sci Fi switched broadcasting from 4:3 to 16:9 aspect ratio on 1 December 2008. [3] Sci Fi +2 went to air on 15 November 2009.

On 18 July 2012, it was announced that as of 23 July 2012 Sci Fi would be rebranded as SF, using a world exclusive branding [4]

On 16 August 2013, it was announced that SF's carriage agreement with Foxtel was set to expire in December 2013, and that negotiations had failed to create a new carriage deal. With Foxtel being the sole subscription TV provider in Australia, this meant that it was expected that SF, and its sister channel TV1, would close. Foxtel announced that a science-fiction dedicated channel would replace SF and would continue to offer the main content currently on offer. [5] SF later announced they were exploring options in which they could continue operations, such as launching their service on IPTV, Crackle, or Apple TV services. [6] On 30 September 2013, it was announced that Syfy (Australia) (a NBCUniversal wholly owned and operated channel) would replace SF on Foxtel as of 1 January 2014. [7] Ultimately, SF closed at midnight on 31 December 2013. [8]

Press coverage

On 22 November 2006, the Adelaide Advertiser reported about the demand for a science-fiction–themed TV channel in Australia. [9]

The official launch party of the Sci Fi Channel was held on 16 November 2006 at the Australian Museum in Sydney. Guests included Jacqueline McKenzie (from The 4400 ), Gigi Edgley and Matthew Newton (from Farscape ).

Media

In addition to subscription television, SF Channel Australia also operated on the now defunct SF Australia website, where viewers could access television guides as well as video extras, full episodes, and the SF News blog. In 2013, they began producing their own web only pop culture news series Go Pop.

See also

Related Research Articles

Syfy is an American basic cable television channel, which is owned by the NBCUniversal Media Group division and business segment of Comcast's NBCUniversal. Launched on September 24, 1992, the channel broadcasts programming relating to the science fiction, horror, and fantasy genres. As of November 2023, Syfy is available to approximately 69,000,000 pay television households in the United States-down from its 2011 peak of 99,000,000 households.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Network 10</span> Australian television network

Network 10 is an Australian commercial television network owned by Ten Network Holdings, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Paramount Global's UK & Australia division. One of five national free-to-air networks, 10's owned-and-operated stations can be found in the state capital cities of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth while affiliates extend the network to regional areas of the country.

NXE Australia Pty Limited, trading as the Foxtel Group, is an Australian pay television company—operating in cable television, direct broadcast satellite television, and IPTV streaming services. It was formed in April 2018, superseding an earlier company from 1995. The service was established as a 50/50 joint venture between News Corporation and Telstra, with News Corp and Telstra holding 65% and 35% ownership shares respectively.

Fox8 is an Australian pay television channel available on Foxtel, and Optus Television's subscription platforms. It is the most watched subscription television channel in Australia. A high definition version of the channel, Fox8HD, was launched on the Foxtel and Austar platforms on 15 November 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TV1 (Australian TV channel)</span> Australian subscription television channel

TV1 was an Australian subscription channel. The station closed on 31 December 2013, along with its sister channel SF. It was replaced on 1 January 2014 by TVH!ts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Universal TV (Australian TV channel)</span> Australian cable television channel

Universal TV is an Australian cable and satellite television channel, owned and operated by NBCUniversal International Networks. It has been available on most subscription television platforms in Australia since 1998.

NBCUniversal International Networks & Direct-to-Consumer, formerly NBC Universal Global Networks, Universal Networks International and NBCUniversal International Networks, is a part of NBCUniversal, owned by Comcast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fox Funny</span> Former Australian television channel

Fox Funny was an Australian pay television channel focused on airing popular American sitcom from the mid-2000s to present, complementing the 1980s–2005 schedule of sister network Fox Comedy. The channel was closed on 1 March 2023.

This is a list of Australian television events and premieres which occurred, or are scheduled to occur, in 2012, the 57th year of continuous operation of television in Australia.

Foxtel Movies is a suite of 11 pay television film channels in Australia which began broadcasting on 1 January 2013. Owned by Foxtel, the channels replaced the now-defunct Movie Network and Showtime suites.

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.

This is a synoptic list of events and premieres which occurred, in 2014 in Australian television, the 59th year of continuous operation of television in Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foxtel Now</span>

Foxtel Now is an Australian internet television service which offers subscriptions to over 50 live channels and hundreds of video on-demand titles. The service is owned by Foxtel, and officially launched on 11 August 2013 as Foxtel Play.

E! was an Australian and New Zealand pay television channel, owned by NBCUniversal International Networks. Much like its American counterpart it featured entertainment-related programming, reality television and Hollywood news. It was available, at the time of closure, through the Foxtel and FetchTV platforms in Australia. It was available on the Sky platform in New Zealand, from April 2002 until 15 January 2023. It was also available on the Austar service prior to 2012. In 2014, it became available on Australian streaming service Foxtel Play.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BBC First (Australian TV channel)</span> Subscription TV channel

BBC First is an entertainment subscription television channel broadcasting in Australia. It is the localised version of the internationally available BBC First. The channel is wholly owned and operated by BBC Studios.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crime (TV channel)</span> Television channel

Crime is an Australian subscription television channel primarily screening crime drama television series. The channel launched on 7 November 2019, replacing TVHits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Binge (streaming service)</span> Australian streaming service owned by Foxtel

Binge is a video streaming subscription service available in Australia, owned by Hubbl. The service offers on demand and live entertainment, lifestyle, reality and movies.

Sci-Fi was an Australian subscription television channel which focused on airing fantasy TV series. The channel launched on 31 December 2019, replacing the Australian feed of Syfy after NBCUniversal International Networks decided to re-evaluate and change its network strategy in the domestic market, along with a channel shuffle for Foxtel itself.

References

  1. ↑ Weingroff, Jennifer (16 September 2009). "Reed Manville To Oversee International Channel For CBS Studios International" (Press release). CBS Studios International. Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 15 February 2010.
  2. ↑ "SciFi Channel to rebrand as SF | TV Tonight".
  3. ↑ Knox, David (20 November 2008). "Sci Fi Channel switching to 16:9". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 29 November 2008.
  4. ↑ Knox, David. "SciFi Channel to rebrand as SF". TV Tonight. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  5. ↑ "Mediaweek Australia – News – TV1 to disappear from Foxtel platform". Media Week. 16 August 2013. Archived from the original on 23 August 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
  6. ↑ "TV1, SF channels hope to stay alive". TV Tonight. 19 August 2013. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
  7. ↑ Knox, David (30 September 2013). "Syfy to launch on Foxtel". TV Tonight. Retrieved 30 September 2013.
  8. ↑ Knox, David (30 December 2013). "TV1 / SF farewell: "Viewers must love what we do"". TV Tonight. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  9. ↑ Elsworth, Sophie (21 November 2006). "2006: A Sci-Fi Odyssey". The Advertiser. Archived from the original on 16 January 2009.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.