 | |
| Country | Japan |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Osaka, Japan |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | NBC Universal |
| History | |
| Launched | April 1, 2008 (as Sci-Fi Channel) April 1, 2010 (as Universal Channel) |
| Closed | March 31, 2013 |
| Former names | Sci-Fi Channel (2008-2010) |
| Links | |
| Website | www.universalchannel.jp |
Universal Channel was a Japanese television channel.
Sci-Fi Channel was a Japanese television channel that operated from 1 April 2008 to 1 April 2010.[1][2]
This was the result of an agreement between NBC Universal and Jupiter Telecommunications for NBC Universal to acquire Jupiter Telecommunications' subsidiary company JSBC2 and launch Sci Fi Channel on J:COM.[3] Under the terms of the agreement, NBC Universal acquired 100% of the equity of JSBC2, which held the broadcasting license for Reality TV on the SKY PerfecTV! platform in Japan.
Sci-Fi Channel was rebranded in the US on July 7, 2009 as Syfy as part of a global rebrand. Sci-Fi Channel in Japan did not adopt it because it was rebranded in the merger with Universal Channel.[4] Sci-Fi occupies a programming block on Universal Channel. The channel's website no longer exists, instead redirecting to The Universal Channel's website.
On April 1, 2010, Sci-Fi Channel (Japan) was rebranded into Universal Channel (Japan); a Syfy programming block later premiered.