20% off if you sign up by July 28, but I'm thinking that still won't go over well. But, for the opportunity to win a Sharktopus prop? Hmmmm.
via press release:
SYFY UNVEILS SYFY FAN CLUB, THE ULTIMATE FAN EXPERIENCE FEATURING EXCLUSIVE CONTENT, INSIDER ACCESS AND LIMITED EDITION COLLECTIBLES
New York, New York – July 21, 2010 – Continuing the expansion of its online content following the re-launch of Blastr.com, Syfy today announced the ultimate fan experience with the debut of the new Syfy Fan Club.
In making the announcement, Craig Engler, Senior Vice President/General Manager, Syfy Digital, said: “For years our fans have been asking for us to create a fan club that gives them exclusive behind-the-scenes access and great merchandise, and this year we’re excited to launch the official Syfy Fan Club. It’s a great mix of real and virtual offerings that we think will satisfy even our most hardcore fans, and even give them a few things they might not expect.”
The exclusive Syfy membership package ($39.99) includes:
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- A custom designed Syfy messenger bag
- A collectible button set featuring favorite Syfy shows.
- Custom designed Syfy Key Chain
- Personalized Syfy ID card
- Personalized Membership Certificate
- Welcome letter from Syfy President Dave Howe.
As well, the Syfy Fan Club offers fans:
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- Exclusive video content
- Members-only chats with Syfy talent, writers, directors and executives and industry insiders
- A news section with the latest Syfy announcements
- A photo gallery featuring behind the scenes shots
- Discounts for Syfy Fan Club members, including 15% off at the Syfy store, 10% off at the NBC store and access to a full member discount website
- The opportunity to win autographed scripts, props, and access to Special Events
By joining before July 28, fans will receive a 20% membership discount and be automatically entered in a sweepstakes to win a limited edition Syfy Comic-Con t-shirt prize pack.
Sci Fi Wire, the premiere online destination for entertainment news about science fiction, fantasy and horror, re-launched as Blastr.com on July 15, expanding its scope from a news site to a daily curated smorgasbord of news, features, images, popular science, videos and guest bloggers.
Syfy.com is one of the leading imagination-based websites, averaging 5.5 million visits per month* Syfy.com includes the lifestyle blogs Syfy Wire, DVICE and FIDGIT; Game Center featuring popular games such as Eureka Genius Bowl and the MMOG Dark Orbit; major show sites for the channel’s scripted and unscripted programming, from Warehouse 13 and Ghost Hunters to Eureka and Destination Truth, and video hubs showcasing original short form content and video blogs along with Syfy Rewind, which presents full episodes of Syfy’s critically acclaimed programming.
*Since the rebrand (July ‘09 – June ‘10) Source – Omniture
Syfy is a media destination for imagination-based entertainment. With year round acclaimed original series, events, blockbuster movies, classic science fiction and fantasy programming, a dynamic Web site (www.Syfy.com), and a portfolio of adjacent business (Syfy Ventures), Syfy is a passport to limitless possibilities. Originally launched in 1992 as SCI FI Channel, and currently in more than 96 million homes, Syfy is a network of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies. (Syfy. Imagine greater.)
WTF
That is all I got
WTF
Syfy has gone down hill.
I used to watch SciFi channel almost exclusively. Then came westling and Ghost Hunters, Ghost Hunters Anonymous, Ghost Hunters Academy, Ghost Hunters International, Ghost Hunters East, Ghost Hunters West.
Now, I seldom watch anything other than Eureka, Warehouse13, Caprica and an occasional new movie.
April fools?
Seriously, who is going to pay for this? Seems to me all that exclusive web content is stuff other networks offer for free and Syfy should be so lucky as to have people go to their site to view it, never mind pay $40 for the…privilege (I use that word loosely).
Syfy is the most ridiculous network out there. Yes, it beats CW in that category. Which is about the only category it beats anything in. Go, Syfy! Downhill.
Since they are getting out of science fiction shows, I am not sure what exclusive video content can they offer to me.
Well, now people know what to buy when their unemployment checks start rolling in.
This network completely confuses me. The last interview I saw with David Howe, their president, talked about tweaking shows so that they would get the demo they wanted (18-49) and talked about being mainstream and basically getting people to watch who didn't 'know they liked scifi' and moving away from geekiness etc. but then they do something like this; who would this appeal to – the 'old' scifi people they don't want to be associated with? The mainstream they're trying to get? The children they're trying to draw in when they release the new 'kid shows'? None of the above?
Also included, a custom autographed mask from Rey Mysterio and a CD filled with cheesy montage songs for Stargate Universe.
LOL!!!!!
I'm sorry, but I would rather buy 2 brand new Blu Ray movies or even Warehouse 13 on DVD than spend $40 for that junk.
With all the laughter at the channel and its executives for becoming Syfy, I could see the messenger bag being fun like an ironic T-shirt. They missed an opportunity just to do the T-Shirt instead.
But I love the membership certificate. Everyone who gets one will recreate the scene where Homer Simpson burns his GED to replace it on the wall with the college diploma. “I am so smart! S-M-R-T!”
And if Sharktopus isn't on one of the collectible buttons everyone will be pretty annoyed. But how collectible can they be if every member gets the same set? Maybe there are 21 different types and members only get 20 each so they have to fight at Comic-Con to get the one they missed. Now that would be good business!
The best part is the special news section – don't tell the general public when you're going to schedule a show or when you're trying to generate buzz! Only tell the tiny group of people who'll pay money for it as an exclusive! Yeah! Imagine greaterererer!
-Is Syfy going to provide compensation to the poor misguided tweens/teens for medical/psychiatric bills from any bullying that could result?
What if in a moment of fanboy craze a kids thinks it's a good idea to wear the aforementioned pins or shirt, hang the certificate in their locker, carry the messenger bag, and yes, perhaps worst, God forbid, actually carry and even show the ID card.
-Kids if you are on this site (and that in and of itself may not be a good sign), take it from me, you can only take the SciFi geek train so far….staring at my framed “revised ad” print for Star Wars along with a film role of the original priview and lobby card of my local theater….as I type.
-This email is not meant to be taken seriously, except for the hilarity of Syfy asking for $$ for the above items.
Of course kids need the Syfy ID card! It would be pretty embarrassing for a teen to be “carded” and not have one!
They should have spent the money on better scripts instead of spending it changing the logo/name of Sci-fi.
What, no paper bag with eye holes?
That's more raw nerve than even Shatner can conjure.
I use my messenger bag when going to the gym, the coffee shop, to class and even to work. Amazing amazing multipurpose bag.