• Wired, Monday, October 6, 2008 9:45 AM

Just a few months after the science fiction series "Sanctuary" appeared on the Web in 2007, Sci Fi Channel snapped up the rights to add the series to its slate of fall 2008 television programming. "Sanctuary" made its TV debut last Friday, joining the growing ranks of Web-to-TV success stories, such as "Fat Boy Stuck in Internet" and "Venus Rises."

"We created a show that credited the audience with great intelligence, and a rich mythology," says star and executive producer Amanda Tapping.

How did they do it? In an era of low-budget Web hits, "Sanctuary" producers gambled millions on their online production. To supplement the show and nourish the fan base, the series also built an online community with outtakes, forums and alternate-reality. "The social networking aspect for sci-fi fans is huge," says Tapping.

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