We care quite a lot, but we're human and, as such, finite. There aren't a lot of hours we can reasonably dedicate to answering all the questions. Although we would like to respond individually to every request and query, we simply can't. The answers to many we do receive really are answered by this FAQ, though. Dig around.

The cable "universe" has been estimated at around 74 million homes, and almost all of them get SCI FI. Keep telling your cable provider what you want to see. One way to get word to your cable company is to write them at the address printed on your bill. A useful list of companies can also be found at the TVinsite/Broadcasting & Cable trade-magazine site, along with links where available. We are aware of the few cable affiliates in the country that don't presently carry us and are doing everything we can to get them to do so.

International viewers might be able to pick up SCI FI by satellite. SCI FI UK /SCI FI Europe is available to those across the big pond, but although they used to be part of this company, we have no affiliation with them now. Furthermore, SCI FI Europe has its own programming schedule and always has.

Some common reasons might be:

• The show has been licensed by another cable network, is in a syndication window and airing on local stations nationwide, or is simply not available for licensing at the moment.
• Some cable networks may own the current license term for your favorite show even though they are not airing it.
• Shows may be kept on the shelf until they are needed, or have been put on the shelf due to poor ratings performance.
  
  

Other reasons may be budgetary or strategic: If, for a given show, ratings estimates are low and/or the target demographics don't fit the Channel, SCI FI may decide not to acquire that program.

It is true that there is a lot of horror programming on SCI FI, but we try to maintain a balance between sci-fi, fantasy and horror in order to present a wide variety of programs in these related genres. We constantly strive to bring our viewers the best in science-fiction, fantasy and horror programming.

We alter our schedule quarterly, with big changes tending to happen at the beginnings of the first quarter (January) and the fourth quarter (October).

The reason it was moved is the same reason it was scheduled where it was in the first place: namely, ratings. A program is scheduled in the hopes of getting good ratings and of helping the shows around it get good ratings. A show is given a new timeslot in the hopes of raising either its ratings overall, raising the new timeslot's ratings, or raising the original timeslot's ratings — and hopefully the ratings of the shows around those timeslots. Sometimes a change can result in lower ratings for some shows that were moved yet still be the right thing to do.

For example, say a show called Intergalactic Space Ninjas aired Mondays at 8pm and was moved to Sundays at 10am. There's little chance it could get higher ratings in its new slot, but if the new Monday night show gets a higher rating, and "Intergalactic Space Ninjas" gets a higher rating than the show it replaced, the net result is better ratings for the network as a whole.

Keep in mind that no show has a "natural" or "rightful" time slot.

We schedule episodes and movies only a few months in advance. The best thing to do is to search the coming months' schedules with our ScheduleBot. If a program has been officially scheduled, it'll show up there. If not....

You can actually find this out for yourself by checking our ScheduleBot. If you are not sure what the title of the show is, check our Shows page.

The best way to contact your favorite actor is to send a letter care of the company that produces the show. Please keep in mind that shows are not actually made here but are initiated, created and executed by specific production companies. The best way to find out what company produces your show is to watch the credits.

Please send résumés in electronic format to feedback@scifi.com.

SCI FI does not accept unsolicited material. We only accept submissions/pitches from distributors, producers, agents, talent with representation, etc. This is to protect both the Channel and the individual with the idea.

Check your local video store or an online retailer such as Amazon.com. For basic information on movie casts and crew, try the Internet Movie Database. For plot descriptions, TV Guide.com has one of the Web's most comprehensive journalistic movie sites.

We firmly believe that movies and shows that are shot in widescreen (also known as letterboxing, abbreviated "LBX") should be shown in widescreen. It preserves the proper aspect ratios and displays the moving images as the creators intended them to be seen. We are trying to faithfully transmit the original creators' intentions.

Almost every show on SCI FI is close-captioned, as well as a large percentage of our movie inventory. A lot of programming is delivered to the Channel with captions; however, some shows air without captions the first time. This is a timing issue. The captioning process takes a lot of coordination and if SCI FI makes a last-minute acquisition, there may not be enough time to prepare captioning for a show's initial airing.