Probably, but that's usually the case. I think they just want to start competing more directly, rather than take the summer of unchallenged viewership model. I dunno, I'd prefer summer too, especially to build an audience for a 'new' show (it's new but old because it's Stargate). And I'm getting the feeling there won't be any established spinoffs on Universe. At best a minor recurring character.

I haven't read Scalzi, but yeah, I probably will at some point.