Syfy changes name of upcoming 'Notorious Hauntings'

In a Syfy press release, it was announced that the upcoming paranormal investigative docudrama Notorious Hauntings (first reported here last November) will now have a new name: Killer Contact.

Debuting Tuesday, July 16 at 10 p.m. ET/PT, Syfy writes the show will "follow a team of paranormal investigators as they research the otherworldly activity at historical sites and explore the gruesome backstory of the infamous and heinous individuals who operated out of each location."

As the team digs into crimes and victims, they will supposedly "determine if they are the cause of the present-day haunting." Such notorious criminals investigated on the show include Jack the Ripper, Vlad the Impaler and the Borgias of Italy. Killer Contact is produced by Pilgrim Studios, and Craig Piligian and Mike Nichols serve as executive producers. This is the same team behind Ghost Hunters and, previously, Ghost Hunters International.

No reason for the title change was given.

-Aaron Sagers

Summer on Syfy: Expect ghosts, monsters and lots of reality TV

Courtesy Syfy

Brand new programming and returning favorites will shine this summer on the Syfy network. Since Memorial Day is the official start of summer, the network kicks off  the season with the Roger Corman Syfy Original favorites, Piranhaconda and Sharktopus. Of course, Independence Day wouldn’t be the same without the Twilight Zone marathon, with the grand finale being the premiere of the Syfy Original, Independence Day-saster.

In addition, new reality shows Exit (June 4), Joe Rogan Questions Everything (July 16), Notorious Hauntings (July 16) and Cosworld (Aug. 27) debut on Syfy this summer. And returning series include Total Blackout (June 4), Paranormal Witness (June 5), Continuum (June 7), Ghost Hunters (June 12) and Face Off (Aug. 27). Two new scripted programs will also be rolled out on June 8: Sinbad and the spinoff Primeval: New World.

For a complete breakdown of Syfy summer programming, go beyond the jump for further details!

UPDATED with Syfy response. Syfy renewal or cancellation watch? 'Ghost Hunters' premiere delayed, 'Haunted Collector' extended

In a statement issued this afternoon, the Syfy network has announced that it's long-running paranormal reality series Ghost Hunters -- which was to premiere April 17 -- has been pushed back to June 12. In its place, Haunted Collector, the paranormal investigative series starring John Zaffis and Brian Cano, would enjoy an extended third season with new episodes airing until June 5.

The Syfy release gave no reason for GH's delay, and screeners for the new season of Ghost Hunters have already been sent to press. Ghost Hunters, which premiered in 2004, is on hiatus from its ninth season. Neither Haunted Collector nor Ghost Hunters have been renewed (or canceled) by the network.

Here's what we know: The shows are currently occupying the same programming space. They are very similar in style (although I know fans will vehemently disagree). Also, the network appears to be moving away from "traditional" investigation-driven series -- a tradition GH largely spearheaded when it debuted -- and towards more character-driven para-shows like Stranded and Deep South Paranormal.

Of course, this move might mean nothing. Or it could mean one of a couple things (this is pure speculation) ...

Syfy greenlights new paranormal shows - cancels 'Ghost Hunters International,' 'Fact or Faked,' 'Destination Truth'?

Expect a lot more paranormal activity on the Syfy network in the coming year - but don't expect a few familiar shows to be returning.

The channel announced in a press release today that it greenlit Ghost Mine, Stranded and Notorious Hauntings - three new paranormal-themed reality shows to premiere in the first part of 2013. According to Syfy, the shows build upon the net's "popular paranormal reality programming block led by Ghost Hunters, Paranormal Witness and Haunted Collector."

Ghost Mine, premiering Jan. 16 at 10 p.m., focuses on a re-opened, supposedly haunted gold mine where "a colorful team of miners" seek fortune alongside a group of paranormal investigators - on hand to explore the ghostly activity and Masonic connections. Stranded, premiering Feb. 27 at 10 p.m., is produced by Destination Truth's Josh Gates (who also serves as showrunner) and Ping Pong Productions (Destination Truth, Finding Bigfoot), and follows teams of three dropped into famously haunted locales. The teams' experiences will be documented with handheld cameras and stationary cams to create a blend of a POV and docudrama.

Then there is Notorious Hauntings (premiering Spring 2013), produced by Pilgrim Studios - the production company behind the Ghost Hunters franchise. A globetrotting paranormal investigative show, the Notorious Hauntings team uncovers history and explores claims of paranormal activity at locations such as Dracula's stomping grounds in Romania and the sites of Jack the Ripper's murders in London.

Notorious Hauntings sounds similar to another international ghost hunting Syfy show produced by Pilgrim ... called Ghost Hunters International. And Mike Nichols, who has exec-produced GH and GHI, also produces Notorious. For a while now it has seemed that GHI - also produced by GH's Jason Hawes - wouldn't be returning, but this puts the nail in that ghost show's coffin.

Following Ghost Hunters Academy, this is the second GH show that appears to be cancelled. After a rotating cast of investigators, coupled with the fact that they haven't filmed any episodes for more than a year (and that last season's ratings were weak), it is reasonable to expect a GHI reboot. But even though GH remains a strong ratings performer (and was recently renewed for season nine), does Pilgrim and Syfy's scrapping of the GHI name suggest a move away from GH as a franchise?

Additionally, it is noteworthy that Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files and Destination Truth are absent from Syfy's list of "popular paranormal reality programming block." Through omission, the announcement of three new shows reads like a de facto cancellation notice of three other shows - all while reinforcing Syfy's continued commitment to the paranormal.

Of course, this could be reading too much into the press release and maybe we can expect to see more of Kris Williams and Barry FitzGerald's GHI team, as well as Ben Hansen's Fact or Faked crew. Whatever the case, Truthies out there can take comfort that at least Josh Gates, who has become a trusted pitch man for the entire net, will still be with Syfy - even if behind the scenes. Then again, this is the TV biz, folks; even cancelled shows can come back from the dead to haunt another day.

So what do you think? Are you a diehard GHI, DT or FoF fan who is riled up over the announcement? Are you stoked to see these new shows?

-Aaron Sagers