Atlantis bows in syndication with a 1.7

CORRECTED: The Atlantis premiere earned a 1.7 rating, not a 1.2 as reported in Variety magazine.

The series premiere of Stargate Atlantis scored a 1.7 average rating in its debut in U.S. syndication the week of September 19. The episode was “Rising, Part 1.”

The rating matches SG-1‘s syndication performance when Season Seven premiered one year ago. The first four fall SG-1 episodes each earned the same 1.7 rating last year, though the show went on to average a 2.0 rating for the 2004-2005 season.

In addition to the progressively lower ratings across the board — especially for first-run dramatic series — in the syndication market, Stargate traditionally has a slow start in September and October, due in large measure to Major League Baseball play-offs. Stargate SG-1 and Atlantis air on FOX in most markets, making baseball preemptions common.

Elsewhere in syndication news, new off-network arrival Alias premiered with a 2.5 rating, and Smallville entered the fray with a 1.7. Star Trek: Enterprise reportedly earned a 1.2 in its debut.

Data for the Season Eight premiere of Stargate SG-1 should be available next week.

The first season of Stargate Atlantis continues each week in syndication! Check your local listings for the time and channel in your area.