SCI FI Friday nudges up in ratings

The January 28 broadcast of The SCI FI Channel’s new primetime line-up improved on the premiere week’s ratings, with Battlestar Galactica once again leading the ratings. All three series drew more viewers than the previous week, with Stargate Atlantis leading in gains.

Stargate SG-1 led off the night at 8 p.m. Eastern/Pacific with a 2.1 household rating for “Prometheus Unbound,” guest starring Farscape‘s Claudia Black. The episode drew 2.5 million viewers, one-tenth of a ratings point higher than the previous week’s mid-season premiere.

Black will return for the first five episodes of Season Nine, beginning this summer.

Stargate Atlantis improved on those numbers at 9 p.m. with a 2.4 household rating for “The Defiant One,” representing 2.9 million viewers. This is a strong 12 percent improvement (three-tenths of a point) from the previous week.

Battlestar Galactica rounded out the night at 10 p.m. with “Act of Contrition.” The episode earned a 2.5 household rating, or a cool 3 million viewers. This is up one-tenth of a point from the previous week, and only one-tenth of a point off from the January 14 series premiere.

The ratings success made The SCI FI Channel the top-rated cable network for the evening in some key demographics — its third week straight — including viewers age 25 to 54 and men age 25 to 54. The three series also ranked as Friday’s top three shows on cable among men 25 to 54.

UPN this week announced the cancellation of Star Trek: Enterprise after four seasons, leading to the first time in 18 years there will be no new Trek on the air. The show has seen some of its lowest ratings ever the last two weeks, during which new episodes of Stargate SG-1 have competed with and even beaten it in total viewers in the 8 p.m. timeslot — despite the fact that UPN is available in more homes nationwide. The Enterprise series finale will air in May.

Meanwhile, SCI FI is expected to soon announce a pick up the gritty, edgy Galactica remake for a second season. The network has reportedly already asked for scripts for six more episodes.

All-new episodes of SG-1, Atlantis, and Galactica continue this week on SCI FI Friday starting at 8 p.m. Eastern/Pacific!