The "Stargate" franchise's new universe opened strongly for Syfy Friday night.
Stargate Universeaveraged more than 2.3 million watchers during its two-hour premiere on Oct. 2, the franchise's top premiere performance since the second season debut of Stargate Atlantis on July 15, 2005, according to network officials. The debut topped the 2.1 million who watched Fox's Dollhouse in the 9 p.m. hour.
Starring Robert Carlyle, Lou Diamond Phillips and Ming-Na, Stargate Universe earned a 1.7 household rating, averaged 2.35 million total viewers, 1.32 million adults 25 to 54, and 1.12 million adults 18 to 49 from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. last night, according to Nielsen data.
Among the Madison Avenue-coveted adults 18-to-49 set, Stargate Universe's bow marked the best performance for a Friday series premiere since Battlestar Galactica took off on Jan. 14, 2005, according to network officials.
The performance continues Syfy's momentum, which, with such series as Warehouse 13, Eureka, Ghost Hunters and Destination Truth, scored its most-watched third quarter ever. The network was rebranded from Sci Fi Channel on July 7.
