SCI FI Channel is holding an "upfront" event in New York City today, and Battlestar Galactica had its own press conference to share some rather large news with fans. As everyone knows, this is the series' final season - and one that had its production delayed by the writers' strike. Well, now there's a lot more to report. So much, it takes a press conference to do it.

It has been confirmed that the long rumored and scantily reported spin-off, Caprica is in fact a go project. SCI FI Channel has given the green light to a two-hour "backdoor" pilot for the series – which means it'll air as a TV movie (not unlike the promotion and rollout for "Razor") – and if that's successful it'll get a series commitment from the network. The project is currently slated to shoot this spring and air in the fall.Casting is underway now. As was originally reported when the series was announced , the show takes place 50 years before the events of Battlestar Galactica . Ron Moore is being vague on his day-to-day involvement with the new series, but Moore and BSG producer David Eick will serve as producers. They also said the show will be more "sweeping drama," and likened it to Dallas. Not sure that's the show we'd like to see crossed with Battlestar - but more BSG is more BSG. We'll have more updates so keep checking IGN TV for details.