Syfy (in some countries named Sci Fi) is a family of pay television channels that broadcast programming owned or licensed by entertainment NBCUniversal around the world using the Syfy brand which is focused on science fiction, fantasy, horror, supernatural and paranormal programming. The first such channel was launched in the United States on September 24, 1992. It was originally named "Sci-Fi Channel". In 1995 it kicked off in the United Kingdom, followed by the Netherlands and Belgium in 1996.
The name Syfy was officially adopted on July 7, 2009, and most were renamed Syfy Universal by 2010. Exceptions to this renaming scheme included Syfy Channels in USA, Germany, France, Latin America, Spain, Portugal and future Syfy Channels in Canada, Cyprus, Israel, Nordic countries, South Africa, Türkiye and now defunct and replaced SF Australia (formerly Sci Fi Channel Australia) and Syfy UK, where the channel is simply called Syfy. Sci Fi Channels in Poland, Serbia, Slovenia and future Sci Fi Channels in Greece, Malta and now defunct Sci Fi Channel in Romania, became Sci Fi Universal due to syfy having a profane meaning in Polish. In 2017 the channel got rebranded but the Universal suffix was already dropped.[1]