By Karen Moul

Syfy has partnered with online apparel retailer Her Universe to create a line of women's clothing, jewelry and other items based on Syfy properties. Syfy President Dave Howe announced the partnership this month at the Syfy digital press tour in Orlando. "From a brand perspective, it sends the right messages about what we want to stand for, which is a business that is for everyone with platforms that reach out to everybody. It's very exciting."

Ashley Eckstein, founder of Her Universe, is best known to fans as the voice of Ahsoka Tano on Star Wars: The Clone Wars. She launched the company this summer with the first line of Star Wars apparel designed specifically for women. "In the past," said Eckstein, "a lot of [science fiction-oriented] merchandise was created for women more as an afterthought. They just took an image, slapped it on a pink T-shirt, and said, "Oh, the girls will buy it." And that's not what we want. We want some of the same cool images, just put on a really flattering V-neck."

"Almost half of all Syfy fans are women." she continued, "and they weren't giving us anything to buy."

Currently, Her Universe aspparel is targeted to a broad age range, with sizes ranging from extra small up through plus sizes. "It's definitely not a junior's line. Our items are fashionable and fitted but pretty true to size." She plans several new Star Wars items for Christmas, including a set of Boba Fett underoos.

Syfy gear will be available in 2011 at conventions such as ComicCon. The line will be available in retail outlets in 2012. Plans call for apparel [to] highlight Syfy programs such as Caprica, Battlestar Galactica, Warehouse 13, Destination Truth, and Eureka.

The panel also discussed other aspects of Syfy Ventures, which are available in the previous article. Eckstein answered questions for journalists at the digital press tour, which can be read in the full transcript below. Please also read the press release at Her Universe.

By Karen Moul

At last week’s digital press tour, Syfy executives Dave Howe, Alan Seiffert, and Craig Engler discussed the network’s plans to diversify across multiple entertainment platforms. It’s all part of Syfy Ventures, the network's business development and enterprise unit that focuses on next generation brand extension, including both media and non-media properties.

In a panel with journalists, Howe described the Syfy's plans "to create 24/7 immersive, dynamic storytelling experiences so that we can create transmedia IP characters and stories that can live on any platform, not just the cable linear TV platform." What does that mean to Syfy fans? How about gaming, apparel, and even a new channel for kids?

Syfy’s gaming projects are already well underway, with a close eye on storytelling. “In the gaming space,” said Seiffert, “we've really focused on what possible stories are out there that can really satisfy the needs of our audience but also still offer content in a very unique way. And in a way that is very appropriate for Syfy.”

First up is a two-hour TV movie (and perhaps an eventual series) based on THQ's Red Faction, the popular first-person shooter set on Mars. "Red Faction was a great shoot-'em-up -- it's a really exciting console game,” said Sieffert. “What's unique about it is the movie and hopefully the series will actually live between the last game and the next game. So it becomes part of the overall mythology.”

Down the road, Syfy looks forward to an online browser game based on Battlestar Galactica, which is set to debut in December. Also in the works is a partnership with game developer Trion World to create an online game that would also become a Syfy TV series.

Future plans also call for Syfy to reach out to kids ages 8 to 12 across multiple platforms. "Kids aren't just watching TV," said Seiffert. "They're not just engaging in playing toys. And they're not just online. They're doing all of that. So…we're not going to approach it just as another television show. Absolutely, there will be TV...but there also will be gaming. There will be toys. There will be a pretty massive and exciting online world. The idea is let's bring these stories, let's bring these experiences in a meaningful way across platforms because that's where kids are."

Finally, the executives discussed Syfy's efforts to reach out to female fans through branded apparel, jewelry, and other gear. More information about that is available in the next article.

For more details on Syfy Ventures, read the complete panel transcript below.

Syfy's original series Sanctuary returned this Friday, with the start of its all-new 20-episode season. The third season premiere continued where last season left off with the Sanctuary team trying to reach Kali and prevent catastrophe. The series stars Amanda Tapping as Dr. Helen Magnus, Robin Dunne as Dr. Will Zimmerman, Agam Darshi as Kate Freelander, Ryan Robbins as Henry Foss, and Christopher Heyerdahl as John Druitt and "Biggie." This season will also feature an episode arc with guest star Polly Walker (Caprica, Rome).

Sanctuary shoots almost entirely on green screen and has phenominal visual effects which were previously nominated for an Emmy Award in 2008.

Robin Dunne is known for previously appearing on television series such as Dawson's Creek, Dead Like Me, CSI: Miami, and NCIS. He has also been part of movies such as The Skulls II, American Psycho II, and Beyond Sherwood Forest.

Dunne as well as Syfy executives Erika Kennair and Mark Stern sat down with the media on Monday at the Syfy Digital Press Tour in Orlando, Florida to discuss this groundbreaking series.

Nadia Dajani was drawn into acting early in life. She attended the High School of Music and Art and the British Theatre Association School. She is known for movie roles such as Flirting with Disaster and Sidwalks of New York. She starred in the television show Ned and Stacy as Amanda Moyer for two seasons, and she has also appeared in other series such as Sex and the City, Ugly Betty, and of course plays the part of Tina on Showtime's The Big C. She also writes, produces, and stars in her own web series Caught Off Base with Nadia.

Dajani sat down in an exclusive interview with Jamie Ruby of Sci Fi Vision and MediaBlvd and to discuss life and her role on The Big C.

Many local (and not so local) fans swarmed to Sandusky, Ohio this past week to meet Twilight icon Peter Facinelli, who plays Dr. Carlisle Cullen in the film series based on The Twilight Saga books by Stephenie Meyer.

Fringe is a show about the strange and unusual things that happen, and cannot be solved or understood by normal means, but by fringe science. These include things like mind control and pyrokinesis. The show follows FBI Agent Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv) and her consultant Peter Bishop (Joshua Jackson). They are joined by Peter’s father Walter Bishop (John Noble) and his assistant Astrid Farnsworth, played by Jasika Nicole.

Besides playing the FBI agent, Nicole has also appeared in such shows as Law & Order: Criminal Intent and the recent comedy She’s Out of My League.

Nicole recently took part in an exclusive interview with Jamie Ruby of MediaBlvd.

Kenton Duty is fairly new to the acting scene, but he does have a few roles under his belt, with a role in the web series Ctrl and a part in the Tim Allen movie, Crazy on the Outside. He also appeared in an episode of the television series Cold Case. His talent, however, more than makes up for his lack of experience. Duty may be fifteen, but having been part of one of the most popular television series in history, Lost, is bringing him into the spotlight and is sure to help his budding career.

On Lost, Duty played the role of a young Jacob, although no one, including Duty himself, knew who his character was until nearly the final episode of the series. He was billed simply as “Teenage Boy.”