Sci Fi Channel Looks To Expand Its Reach With Scripted Series

Looking to attract a broader audience, the Sci Fi Channel has lined up new scripted series from Hollywood boldface names.

Freddie Prinze, Jr., "Will & Grace's" Eric McCormack, and Jesse Alexander - one of the creative minds behind "Alias" and "Lost" - are all producing new shows for the channel that were unveiled at its upfront presentation.

From Prinze comes "The Bishop," a drama that attempts to tap into audience hunger for shows dealing with the supernatural such as NBC's "Medium" and CBS's "Ghost Whisperer." The series focuses on a young slacker who discovers he has a supernatural gift.

McCormack, who is also producing a new comedy for Lifetime, is behind "Blink," a drama where a group of afterlife investigators try to help people about to make a wrong choice in their lives.

"Snap," a Hitchcockian thriller about a federal agent trying to fight a seemingly unstoppable conspiracy, is produced by Alexander.

In the 18-to-49 demo, Sci Fi has prime ratings this season equal to broader appealing competitors such as Discovery and A&E - as well as MTV and Comedy Central. But the NBC Universal network could have trouble increasing its upfront take since its prime ratings in the demo are down 20 percent.

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Sci Fi also said yesterday that it will unveil a new broadband channel, Sci Fi Pulse, on May 8.Unlike some of the slew of cable networks' new broadband channels launching this year, Sci Fi's will include full broadcasts of some of the channel's original on-air series and movies. The online channel will also include dedicated programming such as a weekly news show set to debut this summer.

The network will also use Sci Fi Pulse as a sort of focus group. It plans to place pilots of potential series there and solicit viewer feedback that could determine whether a show hits the air.

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