Sci Fi Channel Confirms Six July Premiere Dates

[Blade Runner]

Sci Fi Channel Confirms Six July Premiere Dates
By The Futon Critic Staff

LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- Sci Fi Channel is gearing up for its largest original programming push in recent memory as the network has confirmed six launch dates for the month of July.

It all begins on Friday, July 15 as "Stargate SG-1," "Stargate Atlantis" and "Battlestar Galactica" will all return that night with new seasons (at 8:00/7:00c, 9:00/8:00c and 10:00/9:00c respectively).

And later that month on Wednesday, July 27, the network will roll out new seasons of "Ghost Hunters" at 9:00/8:00c and "Tripping the Rift" at 10:00/9:00c with newcomer "Master Blasters" leading off the night at 8:00/7:00c.Here's how Sci Fi's press materials describe the freshman project: "Imagination literally takes flight with Master Blasters, the new daredevil stepchild of the reality genre. A high-octane ride into the wild blue yonder, Master Blasters pits teams of amateur rocket scientists against each other in a race to design, build and launch some very bizarre things into orbit. From rocket-bolstered La-Z-Boys to fuel injected Mini Coopers, "one small step for man" becomes one giant leap for mad science! A healthy dose of teamwork, competition and creativity, mixed with jet fuel and a strict defiance of the laws of physics, makes for television's most explosive half-hour in this weekly documentary-style show produced by First Television."

Sci Fi is coming off one of its most-watched quarters in its history, which saw the original series "Battlestar Galactica" and the Saturday original movie "Alien Apocalypse" earn record marks for the cable channel.

[barry]

And later that month on Wednesday, July 27, the network will roll out new seasons of "Ghost Hunters" at 9:00/8:00c and "Tripping the Rift" at 10:00/9:00c with newcomer "Master Blasters" leading off the night at 8:00/7:00c.

Renewing Galactica was obvious but Tripping the Rift is slightly unexpected.