The SCI FI Channel reported today that they had their best 3rd quarter (Summer) ratings ever. The Friday line-up of Stargate: SG-1, Stargate Atlantis, and Battlestar Galactica made the channel the number one cable channel for persons aged 18-49 and persons aged 25-54 on Friday nights. In the latter group it had higher ratings even than the WB and UPN networks.
In terms of ratings growth, while the channel did not specify the growth versus the Summer of 2004 for Friday nights, its overall ratings grew by 11% for persons 25-54, 12% for persons 18-49, and 12% for persons 18-34. The growth was much higher for Wednesday nights than these overall numbers.
Networks measure their ratings for various age groups because advertisers often want to target specific demographics. The younger demographics are the ones ‘coveted’ by advertisers.
Here is the full press release, courtesy of Mary McNamara on the Our Stargate Forum:
SCI FI BEATS THE HEAT WITH BEST 3RD QUARTER EVER
#1 Cable Net on Friday Nights
Triple-Digit Increases in Key Demos on Wednesday Nights
Best September on Record
New York, NY (September 27, 2005) – SCI FI blazed a ratings trail this summer, giving the Channel its best third quarter ever. Its SCI FI Friday block of originals cemented the Channel as the #1 cable destination on Friday nights among P18-49 and P25-54 for the entire quarter – averaging more P25-54s than even the WB or UPN. The SCI FI Wednesday block of alternative reality series also scored for SCI FI, delivering double and triple-digit increases among young adults. The Channel’s Saturday action movie franchise added to the ratings bonanza with Pterodactyl (August 27), which devoured over 3.1 million viewers and became the highest-rated original movie in SCI FI history.
SCI FI’s total day (M-Su 6am-6am) for 3Q05 saw an 11% increase in P25-54, a 12% increase in P18-49 and a 12% jump in P18-34 versus 3Q04.
Other 3Q05 highlights for primetime (M-Su 8pm-11pm) include:
- Best 3Q delivery of P18-34, P18-49 and P25-54 in SCI FI history
- +10% among P18-49s vs. 3Q04
- +6% among P25-54 vs. 3Q04
- +12% among P18-34 vs. 3Q04
- +7% among F18-49 – best-ever 3Q performance in the demo
- Pterodactyl (Aug. 27 @ 9-11pm) becomes the highest-rated SCI FI Channel original movie in history
- Top 10 among all basic cable networks among P25-54 and P18-49
SCI FI owned Friday nights during 3Q05, becoming the #1 cable network on Fridays among P18-49 and P25-54. The strength of the SCI FI Friday franchise was proven with its recent summer finales. In spite of stiff competition from network premieres, the Stargate SG-1 finale (Sept. 16 @ 8-10pm) and a new episode of Battlestar (Sept. 16 @ 10pm) were Top 2 cable entertainment programs among P25-54 that night. A week later, the summer finale of Battlestar Galactica (Sept. 23 @ 10pm) drew 2.3 million viewers and became the #1 entertainment program on cable for the night among P25-54 – it was also the only non-news program to finish within cable’s Top 10 among that demo.
Some of SCI FI’s greatest third quarter gains were made on Wednesday nights. The SCI FI Wednesday lineup, led by Ghost Hunters, gave the Channel double and triple digit increases in key demos versus the previous year.
- +83% among P18-34
- +33% among P18-49
- +114% among M18-34
- +34% among F18-34
- +43% among F25-54
SCI FI also had its best September ever. Averaging a 1.0 HH rating, the Channel was up +17% among P18-49, +12% among P25-54 and +19% among P18-34. SCI FI ranked within the Top 10 cable networks for primetime for both ratings and delivery among P25-54, and P18-49. It also scored double-digit increases among M18-34 (+28%), M18-49 (+20%) and M25-54 (+11%) vs. September ’04. During September, SCI FI Wednesdays grew +102% among P18-34, +112% among M18-34 and 90% among F18-34.
SCI FI Channel is a television network where “what if” is what’s on. SCI FI fuels the imagination of viewers with original series and events, blockbuster movies and classic science fiction and fantasy programming, as well as a dynamic Web site (www.scifi.com