Sci Fi Channel chalks record highs in total viewers

September 3, 2008

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The SCI FI Channel had the most watched summer season ever, with record highs in total viewers, younger viewers and women, according to a new Nielsen Media Reseach.

SCI FI drew a total of 1 million viewers, 253,000 younger viewers (18-34), 143,000 men (18-34), 110,000 women (18-34), 278,000 (18-49) amd 310,000 (25-54).

On top of that, the Channel had double digit growth across all demos and ranked 5th with viewers 18-49 and 4th with viewers 25-54 among all cable entertainment networks.

SCI FI’s summer highlights include:

EUREKA

The Season 3 premiere of Eureka on July 29 averaged 1.6 Million Adults 18-49, 1.8 Million Adults 25-54, and 3.4 Million total viewers, marking the best performances in these demos since the series premiere in July 2006. Eureka has been the #1 ranked program on Tuesday nights in Adults 25-54 since its third season premiere and continues to build on its success, ranking as SCI FI’s top series in 2008 to-date for Adults 25-54 (averaging 1.8 Million) and total viewers (averaging 3.1 Million).

GHOST HUNTERS INTERNATIONAL

The return of Ghost Hunters International this summer further established the Ghost Hunters brand as cable television’s leading paranormal franchise. The season averaged 1.3 Million Adults 18-49, 1.4 Million Adults 25-54, and 2.4 Million total viewers. Compared to the winter season, this is up +4% in 25-54’s and +10% in total viewers. The second episode of the summer season (July 16) delivered the show’s best performance since the series premiere in January 2008, attracting 2.6 Million total viewers.

SCARE TACTICS

Scare Tactics returned to SCI FI on July 9 with its first new episodes since 2004. The series, with new host Tracy Morgan (30 Rock, SNL), had its best season ever with 1 Million Adults 18-49 (+58% vs. season 2), 1 Million Adults 25-54 (+63%) and 2 Million total viewers (+97%).

SCI FI’s Saturday Night Original Movies

With titles like Anaconda 3, Monster Ark, Flu Bird Horror and 100 Million B.C., SCI FI’s original movies turned “the most dangerous night of television” into one of the most popular nights on cable this summer with a total weekly audience averaging 2 Million (+12% vs. last summer). In the key demos, Saturday night original movies averaged 734,000 Adults 18-49 (+1%) and 955,000 Adults 25-54 (+9%).