Syfy Cancels `Stargate Universe'

By R. Thomas Umstead
published

Syfy is ending its run of Stargate series after cancelling sophomore series Stargate Universe on Thursday.

Syfy will air the final 10 episodes of the series, which starred Robert Carlyle and Elyse Levesque, sometime in Spring 2011, according to network officials.

The series averaged one million viewers during its sophomore season, according to the network.

The cancellation of Stargate Universe will mark the first time the network will not feature a Stargate franchise series since it launched Stargate SG-1 in 2002. The network has also Stargate Atlantis from 2004 to 2009.

Stargate Universe's demise follows on the heels of Syfy's decision this past October to cancel Caprica - a prequel to the network's hit series Battlestar Galactica -- due to poor ratings.

The network has greenlit another Battlestar prequel, Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome to air later this year. The network will also debut a new scripted series, Being Human, next month.

R. Thomas Umstead
R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.