TNN has set a start date for its manly makeover: August 11.

The cable network, which is the home of Star Trek: The Next Generation reruns, will be officially rebranded Spike TV on that day, the Reuters news agency reported. The name change is part of the network's efforts to become "the first network for men".

"August 11 is Spike TV Day," said network president Albie Hecht. "Men all across this great land should feel empowered to leave the toilet seat up."

Spike TV had planned to launch on June 16, until Oscar-nominated film director Spike Lee (Do The Right Thing) put a spanner in the works. Lee sued Viacom, the parent company of TNN/Spike TV, for infringement, claiming the name "Spike" was indelibly associated with him (story). The director and Viacom settled out of court earlier this month.

And what will Spike TV have to offer holders of the XY chromosome in addition to Captain Picard ordering cups of "Tea, Earl Grey, Hot"? Men can watch babes bound along the beach in Baywatch or tune in for a dose of high crime on Miami Vice or CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. There's also the self-explanatory animated series, Stripperella, and oodles of sports shows with masculine-sounding names like SlamBall and Trucks!.

TNN acquired the rerun rights for Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager and the first five Trek films in November, 2000. Next Generation reruns began in fall 2001, with Deep Space Nine and Voyager repeats to follow in 2004 and 2006, respectively.

The original Reuters article is available here at Yahoo! News.

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