SciFi Channel to Air Pro Wrestling

**RebelMan** · 05-26-2006, 02:30 AM

Thursday, May 25, 2006
12:26 PM PT

World Wrestling Entertainment and NBC Universal are extending their relationship, bringing the resurrected Extreme Championship Wrestling to the Sci Fi Channel for a summertime run.

Because when you think of pro wrestling, you think of the Sci Fi Channel.

ECW, which had a cult following in the 1990s but was bought by WWE following a bankruptcy filing several years ago, will make its Sci Fi debut on Tuesday, June 13. That's two days after a pay-per-view event called "One Night Stand" that will serve as a sort of resurrection of the brand, though it's occasionally popped up in WWE stories in recent years.

Sci Fi insists that ECW, which has a reputation as a more "hardcore" promotion than the WWE (sort of like the "independent" arms of major movie studios), is "an alternative brand of wrestling suited to fit the Sci Fi Channel's commitment to fuel the imagination."

"Research tells us that there's a healthy appetite for wrestling among Sci Fi viewers," says Bonnie Hammer, president of Sci Fi and the USA Network, which airs "WWE Raw" to strong ratings. "With ECW, we're able to deliver to those fans unique action with a twist that's perfect for Sci Fi."

Fan reaction, not surprisingly, has been largely negative, with some message boards devolving into jocks-vs.-geeks name-calling between science-fiction and wrestling fans.

"This is truly frightening," reads a typical post on SciFi.com. "I know its [sic] fiction, but why is wrestling science fiction? Calculate the rate of descent?"

Sci Fi says ECW will be a "summer series," but the network hasn't said how long it will run.

**open32** · 05-26-2006, 02:55 AM

Doesnt fit the channel. Dumb idea.

Mat · 05-26-2006, 10:44 AM

im a wrestling fan so of course I could care less where it airs, even if its the food network.

M@tt · 05-26-2006, 01:06 PM

Really, it's no different than Pro Wrestling being on MTV, it's just we're so that network running everything but music videos that it was never an issue.

I love that they think it's jocks vs. nerds though. I want JBL to be our champion and shoot on all the Star Wars nerds.

**open32** · 05-26-2006, 09:29 PM

MTV has pro wrestling on it?

Mat · 05-26-2006, 09:47 PM

Yes, it had some indy based wrestlers wrestling on some show. I didnt watch it, but I think it was a 1 time deal, though they wanted more.

MTV used to air WWE Heat before wwe went to spiketv, then spike tv to now USA Network :p

Wrestling > Fanhost

rlm · 06-04-2006, 04:32 AM

ok i just saw some kind of ece commercial on the usa network and by the looks of it theres some show on this wednesday on the USA network. what's this about?

**Bill5461** · 06-04-2006, 10:40 AM

My wife is going to throw a fit

Mat · 06-04-2006, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rlm

ok i just saw some kind of ece commercial on the usa network and by the looks of it theres some show on this wednesday on the USA network. what's this about?

going to be a 2hours special with wwe vs ecw stars. Kinda like a saturday night main event one shot.

rlm · 06-05-2006, 03:27 AM

then i guess i'll be watching that on wed.

farsighted · 06-05-2006, 11:02 AM

That's really wierd, doesn't seem to fit at all with what the channel is all about, but I guess they are still going to attract some people just because it's wrestling.

M@tt · 06-05-2006, 01:19 PM

Apparently they're bringing in some vampire characters to aplease the network.

Bowlcut · 06-05-2006, 10:35 PM

i was wondering what was up the other night when i saw jendrack or however you spell his name and regal....oh well

05-26-2006, 02:30 AM	#1 (permalink)
RebelMan AgEnT oF ChAoS Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: The Web Posts: 10,942 My Profile	SciFi Channel to Air Pro Wrestling Thursday, May 25, 2006 12:26 PM PT World Wrestling Entertainment and NBC Universal are extending their relationship, bringing the resurrected Extreme Championship Wrestling to the Sci Fi Channel for a summertime run. Because when you think of pro wrestling, you think of the Sci Fi Channel. ECW, which had a cult following in the 1990s but was bought by WWE following a bankruptcy filing several years ago, will make its Sci Fi debut on Tuesday, June 13. That's two days after a pay-per-view event called "One Night Stand" that will serve as a sort of resurrection of the brand, though it's occasionally popped up in WWE stories in recent years. Sci Fi insists that ECW, which has a reputation as a more "hardcore" promotion than the WWE (sort of like the "independent" arms of major movie studios), is "an alternative brand of wrestling suited to fit the Sci Fi Channel's commitment to fuel the imagination." "Research tells us that there's a healthy appetite for wrestling among Sci Fi viewers," says Bonnie Hammer, president of Sci Fi and the USA Network, which airs "WWE Raw" to strong ratings. "With ECW, we're able to deliver to those fans unique action with a twist that's perfect for Sci Fi." Fan reaction, not surprisingly, has been largely negative, with some message boards devolving into jocks-vs.-geeks name-calling between science-fiction and wrestling fans. "This is truly frightening," reads a typical post on SciFi.com. "I know its [sic] fiction, but why is wrestling science fiction? Calculate the rate of descent?" Sci Fi says ECW will be a "summer series," but the network hasn't said how long it will run.

05-26-2006, 02:55 AM	#2 (permalink)
open32 Administrator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 7,934 My Profile	Doesnt fit the channel. Dumb idea.

05-26-2006, 10:44 AM	#3 (permalink)
Mat Senior Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: Los Angeles, California Posts: 1,030	im a wrestling fan so of course I could care less where it airs, even if its the food network.

05-26-2006, 01:06 PM	#4 (permalink)
M@tt Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: UK Posts: 1,965 My Profile	Really, it's no different than Pro Wrestling being on MTV, it's just we're so that network running everything but music videos that it was never an issue. I love that they think it's jocks vs. nerds though. I want JBL to be our champion and shoot on all the Star Wars nerds.

05-26-2006, 09:29 PM	#5 (permalink)
open32 Administrator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 7,934 My Profile	MTV has pro wrestling on it?

05-26-2006, 09:47 PM	#6 (permalink)
Mat Senior Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: Los Angeles, California Posts: 1,030	Yes, it had some indy based wrestlers wrestling on some show. I didnt watch it, but I think it was a 1 time deal, though they wanted more. MTV used to air WWE Heat before wwe went to spiketv, then spike tv to now USA Network :p Wrestling > Fanhost

06-04-2006, 04:32 AM	#7 (permalink)
rlm Member of Sylar's Army Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: tx Posts: 2,097 My Profile	ok i just saw some kind of ece commercial on the usa network and by the looks of it theres some show on this wednesday on the USA network. what's this about?

06-04-2006, 10:40 AM	#8 (permalink)
Bill5461 Scarlett Mod Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Upstate New York Posts: 13,150 My Profile	My wife is going to throw a fit

06-05-2006, 03:27 AM	#10 (permalink)
rlm Member of Sylar's Army Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: tx Posts: 2,097 My Profile	then i guess i'll be watching that on wed.

06-05-2006, 11:02 AM	#11 (permalink)
farsighted Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 580 My Profile	That's really wierd, doesn't seem to fit at all with what the channel is all about, but I guess they are still going to attract some people just because it's wrestling.

06-05-2006, 01:19 PM	#12 (permalink)
M@tt Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: UK Posts: 1,965 My Profile	Apparently they're bringing in some vampire characters to aplease the network.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

06-05-2006, 10:35 PM	#13 (permalink)
Bowlcut Server Administrator Join Date: May 2000 Location: Nashville, TN, USA Posts: 277 My Profile	i was wondering what was up the other night when i saw jendrack or however you spell his name and regal....oh well