The SCI FI Channel’s top-rated original series will break the mold and jump to a fall season premiere, the network announced today. The 20-episode third season of
Battlestar Galactica will premiere in
October 2006 on the cable network.Production begins in April in Vancouver, British Columbia.The network did not give a reason for the later premiere date. As a cable channel SCI FI has traditionally counter-programmed to the big broadcast networks, airing new episodes of its original series when the networks are in reruns.The broadcast networks have increasingly aired new programming during the summer off-season, such as ABC’s highly-rated
Dancing With the Stars. But in October,
Galactica will likely face stiffer competition.Whether or not a fall premiere for SCI FI’s highest-rated series will see an improvement for
Galactica‘s viewership remains to be seen. The show’s ratings have dropped significantly this season, along with the rest of the network’s Friday night line-up.Both
Stargate SG-1 and
Stargate Atlantis are back in production, and are still expected to premiere in the summer. Stick with GateWorld for the latest developments.