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When Syfy launched in 1992, then Sci-Fi Channel, the science fiction genre wasn’t nearly as seen (or accepted) on TV as it is today. The mission and goal of the new network was to provide genre content to science-fiction fans, a group that was severely ignored elsewhere on broadcast and cable alike.
But now, years later, TV networks have seen success with shows such as “The X-Files,” “The Walking Dead,” “Orphan Black” and “Sleepy Hollow,” all series that have gained substantial audiences on their respective channels, widening that niche audience Syfy pledged to serve. And this weekend, HBO will premiere its post-apocalyptic series, “The Leftovers” while it wraps up bloody vampire drama “True Blood.” So what does a brand do when the genre it is dedicated to representing is no longer under-represented?
To answer this question, Fast Company spoke with Syfy’s EVP of original programming, Bill McGoldrick, who joined the channel late last year to transform Syfy’s content plan and look to the future of science fiction for its next big hit. Below are some of his thoughts on science fiction on TV and what the next trends in the genre may be.
On anticipating trends:
For McGoldrick, it’s not about chasing what’s working right now in film, TV and general pop culture. It’s about finding what that next thing will be. “You can imagine how often in my six months I’ve heard about ‘The Walking Dead,‘” he said. “But you have to be aware that you’re not looking in the rear-view mirror, you’re looking for the things that everybody else is ignoring.”
And according to him, what is that ignored theme? Space. “There are superheroes and vampires, but no one is owning space,” he said.
On identifying talent:
The problem remains that just setting a show in space isn’t enough to make it successful.
“More often than not, you find a special writer with a special take that’s going to be unique even in a setting that’s sort of familiar,” he said. “We know our audience likes time travel, so we try to keep that in the back of our heads, but it’s never the deciding reason why you do a show. If it’s bad, it doesn’t matter if it’s space or zombies or vampires, we’re not going to do it. If it’s good, it doesn’t matter if it’s something people have been wanting.”
On programming that makes you think:
“The stuff that people race home to watch are the unpredictable shows—the things that don’t make you feel good, but make you think,” McGoldrick said. “And that’s how good sci-fi makes me feel.”
He compares that feeling to critically acclaimed shows such as “Breaking Bad,” adding that this is an area where Syfy can compete. Its hoping to see just that with its new series “Dominion,” an angel vs. human warfare tale based on the film “Legion” that debuts this month.
Other new projects along this line include the post-apocalyptic “12 Monkeys,” based on the movie starring Brad Pitt, and The Asylum’s “Z Nation,” both setting out to fill a gap.
Read more at Fast Company.
Brief Take: In today’s ultra-competitive TV world, it’s not enough to just offer a different genre. You also have to produce that genre better than anyone else, and that’s Syfy’s challenge going forward.
[Image courtesy of Syfy]
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