NBC Universal kept under wraps its plan to rebrand Sci Fi Channel as Syfy by negotiating through New Fizz Corp., Conde Nast Portfolio says. Michael Hinman, owner of the fan site Airlock Alpha formerly known as SyFy Portal, says a company he knew as New Fizz approached him about purchasing the name of the site for a “more substantial” price than expected, the magazine says. Also, the lawyers representing the transaction for the New Fizz were NBC Universal’s lawyers on intellectual property, Portfolio adds.
—Sergio Ibarra