via press release:
SYFY MAKES HISTORY WITH RECORD-BREAKING RANKINGS
SYFY POSTS BEST OCTOBER EVER IN TOTAL VIEWERS, ADULTS 18-34, ADULTS 18-49, ADULTS 25-54, WOMEN 18-34, WOMEN 18-49 AND WOMEN 25-54
Syfy Leaps Into #3 Among A25-54 and #4 in A18-49 –
Best Performance in Seven Years
New York, NY – October 27, 2009 – Extending its summer ratings surge into fall, Syfy smashed yet another viewership record with its most watched October prime in history among total viewers (1,452,000), Adults 18-34 (308,000), Adults 18-49 (733,000), Adults 25-54 (797,000), Women 18-34 (141,000), Women 18-49 (356,000) and Women 25-54 (378,000).
Syfy jumped to #3 in A25-54 and #4 among A18-49 versus all basic cable entertainment networks – its second best monthly ranking ever in these demos behind December 2002 when Steven Spielberg’s record-setting Taken premiered.
The record October performance was fueled by strong ratings from Stargate Universe and Sanctuary – which both premiered this month – Ghost Hunters and Destination Truth, the two highest-rated paranormal investigative series on television, along with the annual 31 Days of Halloweenspook-a-thon.
Syfy also reported that in the Third Quarter, $75K+ A18-49 delivery increased by +21% vs. 3Q ’08.
October Syfy Ratings Highlights (includes full viewing data)
- The current 5th season of Ghost Hunters is shaping up to be its best ever in key demos and marks the best season ever for any Syfy original series in A18-49.
- Ghost Hunters is averaging a 2.1 HH Rating, 3.0 million total viewers, 861,000 A18-34, 1.86 million A18-49 and 2.0 million A25-54.
- The first season of Stargate Universe is averaging a 2.1 HH rating, 2.85 million total viewers, 1.5 million A18-49, and 1.7 million A25-54. Compared to the last season of Stargate Atlantis, SGU is up +59% in A18-34, +41% in A18-49, +33% in A25-54 and +36% in total viewers.
- Destination Truth is also on track for its best season ever. Season three thus far is averaging a 1.7 HH Rating, 2.2 million total viewers, 684,000 A18-34, 1.35 million A18-49 and 1.4 million A25-54.
- The second season premiere of Sanctuary delivered a 1.8 HH rating, 2.4 million total viewers, 493,000 A18-34, 1.25 million A18-49 and 1.5 million A25-54. This marks a series high performance in A18-34.
- The Fall 2009 season of Scare Tactics is averaging a 1.1 HH rating, 410,000 A18-34, 818,000 A18-49, 825,000 A25-54 and 1.56 million total viewers. Compared to the Fall 2008 season, Scare Tactics is up by +29% in A18-34, +37% in A18-49, +33% in A25-54, and +42% in total viewers.
- The original movie premiere of Megafault on October 10 delivered 2.6 million total viewers, Syfy’s best original movie premiere in over two years (April 2007).
Syfy is a media destination for imagination-based entertainment. With year round acclaimed original series, events, blockbuster movies, classic science fiction and fantasy programming, a dynamic Web site (www.Syfy.com), and a portfolio of adjacent business (Syfy Ventures), Syfy is a passport to limitless possibilities. Originally launched in 1992 as SCI FI Channel, and currently in 95 million homes, Syfy is a network of NBC Universal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies. (Syfy. Imagine greater.)
I remember the day the Sci Fi channel premiered (no that doesn’t make me old). It’s good to see it still going strong!
I am a big fan of the old stargates series. glad universe is doing well, but I hate it. its too dark. all the doctor does is act like a guy with ptsd. infighting. backstabbing. geez.
They pick and choose the ratings they wanted to include in that press announcement, and didn’t take into consideration that SGU has dropped approx %18 percent from it’s highs as of last weeks episode.
It makes it very hard to trust these kind of press releases.
Sylvia, are you saying that the network press releases only specify the good stuff, and neglect to point out the bad stuff?! I am shocked! I really thought that surely they’d point out everything there is to be said about the ratings, good or bad! Isn’t that their job?! My faith in network press releases has been shattered!
On the bright side, this means that there’s probably some demographic that Dollhouse is beating “Stargate Universe” in! SyFy just hasn’t had the cojones to point it out, though! So yay!
Watch Dollhouse when it returns on December 4! Twice the Jossy Jossiness that only Joss can provide!
Yes, they could teach Looney’s Tunes “Taz” a few things about spinning. Last Friday’s SGU demo was down to a 2.015 from 2.35. Also, why don’t they compare SGU’s first season stats to SGA’s first season stats, instead of the fifth season’s? That would be a better gauge, but SGA actually had better stats when it premiered, so they seem to be downplaying it. Having said that, the show seems to be performing at a level that’s acceptable to Syfy, so I wish they would just release the stats, say they are happy-sincerely-and let it go at that.
Just a moment while I revel in the Jossy Jossiness.
Ghost Hunters is one of the best show. I am so glad to see they are still holding their own. LOVE THOSE GUYS!!! Keep it up
@JBF I have become an athiest when it comes to the network. My faith has been shattered.
So now I am sad.
@Sylvia
“SGU has dropped approx %18 percent …”
Yet, is still consistent, and consistently BETTER than SGA in it’s last season.
Also, those ratings are par for course now for Syfy…compared to the older ratings from several years ago.
The key demo is what is winning for SGU. As well, SGU has a better premise than Dollhouse, and has way more potential thanks to the Doctor everyone loves to hate..
SGU WILL come into it’s own…just wait.
(PS: Also, in case no one knows how Robert Carlyle works, this is called Reactive/Redemptive story telling…first be the a**hole, then show the true motives later…and then redeem themselves…just wait)
@TempestOfNews SGU is Better than SGA? SGU has a better premise than Dollhouse? In your opinion only. Other views may vary. Each to his/her own. And honestly? A person can like all three shows!
Stop it, if you compared any show from this season to a show from 2004, it would likely lose. On cable it has a better chance of not losing, but it’s still a pretty piss poor comparison.
You have to admire the PR person at Syfy because in order to get those SGU numbers (2.85 million) same with Sanctuary (10/16 1,766 according to PI Feedback)and perhaps the other shows also; I think they’re adding in Live + 7 day. I always wonder when PR is spinning too much; reminds me of a stage magician misdirecting the audience for the trick although they’re doing it well. Even though the SGU ratings were down again this week (just a tad) they managed to spin gold out of straw. Give that person a raise.
So if this is all spin, perhaps you should tell us the truth, then?
@TempestOfNews says:
“Also, in case no one knows how Robert Carlyle works,”
He works by doing the scripts they tell him to – he doesn’t write it.
And btw, I don’t hate Rush. I understand him, and he’s right – most of the others are whiners who should shut up and follow his lead.
@Stop it. says:
“Why does everyone compare the first season of SGU to the last season of SGA?”
Because thats the only relevant thing to do. Nobody cares about the first season of SGA. Its ratings we are talking about not historical fan hysteria.
Wow the spin on SGU is amazing! They are really spinning this. They are comparing a series premiere live+7 to a final season of a 5 year show that got a fragement of the promotion. If they compared it to the SGA series finale which pulled in 2.5 Million viewers and a 1.8 HH rating, then it would be more appropriate. Why don’t they compare it to SGA’s first season………..HMMMMMMMMM……..4.2 Million viewers and 3 Million viewers for the next couple of eps without all the DVR BS! Atlantis was pulling over 2.6 Million viewers for most of their first season. LIVE!!. SGU is already down to a 1.5 HH rating with just over 2 Million viewers for Live+SD. To even compare SGA’s finale season is not apples to apples.
@Kermonk
NO, it is not the most revelant thing to do. SGA’s last season aired a year ago. Who knows, SGA could of upticked with the right and proper promotion.
@Kermonk, while the demo for SGU is currently better than SGA’s last season, the HH is not that much better for the last two episodes aired. If the downturn in ratings continues throughout the season, will the cost of making this new series justify a Season 2?
@Sylvia
Right now the show is doing very well. I enjoy the show, but to drag SGA through the mud is just wrong and innappropriate since it is an unfair comparison. SGU is at just over 2 Million viewers. What if it dips? It’s only the 5th week and the Hype is still there, What if it start pulling in 1.7 and 1.8 Million viewers……….WEllllll then it is in SGA territory. SGA for their last 10 eps averaged 1.8 Million viewers for Live+SD.
@Marc I don’t feel I’m dragging SGU through the mud. This topic is just interesting to me personally.
I am just trying to be realistic about its chances for a second season. Are these ratings enough to justify it?
They aren’t THAT much better than the show that got cancelled.
And they seem to be in decline. So I am worried that the Stargate franchise has finally met its end in SGU.
And for the people who DON”T LIKE SGU, just shut up already and go back to watching your SG1 & Atlantis DVD sets — some of us out here really LOVE SGU and don’t want to keep hearing your bickering about how it doesn’t meet your expectations. SGU has become my fave current TV show and I’m hoping it has a long, multi-season life!
Let me get this right (please correct me if I am wrong LOL) SGU has aired what 4 episodes so far and they have dropped 18% in ratings so far and they still have 16 episodes to go. Humm The show seems to be sinking.
I can’t believe they are comparing SGA 5th season to SGU 1st season first of all in the last few years you can tell that they didn’t care about trying to make SGA better they where spinning SGU to MGM and complety ignoring Atlantis. I for one think this new show is a joke to the Stargate Series.
For the record I did watch the 1st 3 episodes and it was not Stargate to me at all. Take the stargate out of the show and you have a remake of BSG.
This SyFy propaganda/fiction translated: STARGATE-U is tanking in the ratings, already with a 18% drop since the premiere. The audience was already significantly smaller than SG-A’s, compared to the latter’s first season. That is all. Btw, SG-U sucks!
I’m sorry, but this is not even spin anymore to me. It’s comedy. The way they have to ever-so-carefully explain just HOW they have record-breaking ratings is just funny. It’s good that they are happy with what they’ve got though. That’s all that matters.