syfy.com

There are a few genres in the television and film world that captivate our imaginations more than any other. Oftentimes, these genres create cult followings of fans who swear by them over any other type of entertainment. Sure, we all love a good drama or comedy every once in a while, but seldom will you find hundreds of thousands of people who are so obsessed with these more general genres that they dress up or cosplay their favorite characters from, say, Parks and Rec or Arrested Development. Although these shows may not be as popular with a niche audience, they are still very popular and have a large following. Many people seem to enjoy the complex stories and themes that these genres encompass.

Science fiction and horror are genres that speak to elements of the human experience that other genres do not quite reach. For example, in science fiction, those of us who are fascinated with considering the future of humanity and what wild technological advancements could suddenly have a tangible link to latch onto between what is and what could be, find this link is made more material through series like Star Trek and Battlestar Galactica. And as a conduit between reality and fantasy, these shows produce an unparalleled level of fervor in fans. This difference in fan fervor between genres may be why dramas and comedies (which typically are more firmly rooted in realism) simply do not reach the same level of engagement from fans.

Whatever the case may be, fans of sci-fi, horror, and fantasy genres need a reliable source for keeping up to date with what's going on in these worlds.

Most entertainment news sites are not likely to report on the stories that matter most to sci-fi and horror fans. This is why it is such a relief that there is at least one major site and cable network devoted to just these genres. And in that spirit, today we will be looking at the TV channel turned online news resource and streaming site, Syfy.

History

Actually, it was communications attorney Mitchell Rubenstein and his wife, Laurie Silvers, who formed Syfy in Boca Raton, Florida back in 1989. They had originally hoped to have the network up and running by December of 1990, but unfortunately ran into some financial troubles along the way. However, the husband and wife duo kept at it and by March of 1992, the idea was picked up by USA Networks as a perfect fit for their programming focus on horror and sci-fi classics. USA Networks saw the Syfy network as a perfect fit for the programming they were focusing on at the time, seeing as the two major film studios had the rights to horror and sci-fi classics galore.

The creator of Star Trek, Gene Roddenberry and famed sci-fi author, Isaac Asimov were already a part of the network?s original board of advisors when it aired its first program: Star Wars. So, it was the bit of kismet that Syfy needed to finally get off the ground.

After several corporate changes between 1992 and 2010, Syfy eventually settled into their current home with Comcast's purchase of NBC Universal in 2010. The network has since garnered acclaim for its science fiction and horror programming, receiving the James Randi Educational Foundation's Pigasus Award in 2017 for "questionable reality programs involving paranormal activity."

Design

I am somewhat torn on how I feel about the site design for Syfy. On the one hand, it looks a bit loud and hokey. But on the other hand, that seems fitting for a site and network that has for many years specialized in content that could be classified as loud and hokey. Many of the films and shows that Syfy caters to are intentionally B-grade and over the top - it is one of the staples shared by both the genres of sci-fi and horror. So, it might be appropriate for Syfy.com to mirror its content in that way, even if it isn't necessarily my thing from a site design perspective.

That being said, some personal taste issues aside, the site functions as it should. It is well organized and not too hard to navigate. As soon as you land on Syfy's home page, you will be greeted with a slew of featured articles - some of which concern themselves with sci-fi classics, others which revolve around exclusive news and content about upcoming or recently released movies and shows. Each article, too, has a convenient grouping of tags next to it, which makes it even easier to work your way through the site based on specific interests.

Content

This is where Syfy began to surprise me ( pleasantly). I was happy to see that this site does not only concern itself with science fiction and horror news and shows, but it has so much to offer beyond that as well. In addition to science fiction, visitors can read up on current breakthroughs in real science, too. I find the site appealing because it offers interesting reads specifically aimed at science fiction fans, as well as linking to scientifically-backed articles that often tie in to popular sci-fi movies and shows.

Aside from all of that, Syfy also provides reviews, criticisms, op-eds, and news surrounding any and everything that falls under the sci-fi and horror film and TV umbrella; links to podcasts; video content; and, of course, the ability to stream Syfy original and syndicated content as well as a live stream of the network's current programming (assuming you have a cable service provider).

Desktop and Mobile Experience

If the desktop web browser version of the site is not for you, perhaps the Syfy app will be more your speed. It has a more subdued and professional feel to it, and it is just as easy (if not easier) to navigate on your smartphone or tablet. You can access everything on the app that you can on the site, but I believe that in a much more streamlined and cleanly designed way.

Pricing and Plans

However, if you are using a streaming service like Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime, then you may have to pay extra for those services. The pricing of getting the most out of Syfy depends on your cable service provider. If you are already paying a monthly bill for a cable service that includes Syfy, then full access to the site, live streaming content, and all available reruns is technically free (you don't pay anything extra beyond your usual cable bill). However, if you are using a streaming service like Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime, then you may have to pay extra for those services. However, if you do not have a cable provider, it is unfortunately not possible to watch the majority of the streaming content that Syfy has to offer. You can still read all the articles you want and view Syfy's short entertainment news clips and the like without having to worry about running into a paywall, but if you would like to view actual full-length content on Syfy, you will need to log in with a cable provider account.

Suggestions that I have for Syfy

I would like to see Syfy opt for a more clean and less jumbled website design. The larger order suggestion I have for them is to offer streaming services that do not rely on having traditional cable. Every year, fewer and fewer people are renewing their subscriptions with cable companies in favor of the myriad streaming services that are popping up all over the web. I think Syfy should follow suit and at least offer a streaming service that can be signed up for directly through Syfy.com, cutting the cord and the middleman of the whole enterprise.

Conclusion

All in all, Syfy is bound to provide an endlessly reliable resource for all fans of science fiction and horror. If you need a site that will keep you up-to-date on all things happening in your favorite genres, Syfy is the perfect destination. Plus, with cable providers almost everywhere, you can enjoy classic sci-fi and horror content at any time of day or night. You'll never be bored with this site!