News
Sci Fi Channel Launches Monday Night Anime Block
posted on by Mikhail Koulikov
Broadcasting & Cable reports that on June 11, the Sci Fi Channel will premiere Ani-Monday, a weekly two-hour block of anime programming. Episodes, films, and other content for the block will be provided by Manga Entertainment, a unit of Starz Media. Starz is the production company behind Sci Fi's original series Painkiller Jane. According to Sci Fi executive vice-president Dave Howe, this block is a part of an overall initiative to redefine Sci Fi as a "lifestyle brand," not just a cable TV channel.
The new block, which will air from 11:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m., is intended to directly compete with Cartoon Network's Adult Swim block. Broadcasting & Cable reports that through the first months of this year, Adult Swim has averaged 281,000 male viewers aged 18-34 during that timeslot. For the same age bracket and timeslot, Sci Fi Channel's average was 44,000 viewers.
