The second episode of Stargate Atlantis‘s new season earned a 1.1 average household rating on Friday, July 18, SCI FI Channel has reported. This is a bit down from the 1.3 earned by the season premiere one week earlier.
In “The Seed,” Dr. Carson Beckett was revived from stasis and Dr. Keller became host to a Wraith virus, which threatened to spread throughout the city.
The 1.1 number is Atlantis‘s “Live + Same Day” rating, which does not take into account DVR-delayed viewing beyond Friday night. “Search and Rescue” bounced from a 1.3 to a 1.7 in its “Live + 7 Days” rating, indicating just how large a percentage of the show’s audience record and watch it later.
In the “competition” department, July 18 was also opening day for the new Batman movie The Dark Knight, which smashed box office records with a reported $155 million opening weekend in the United States.
The episode was SCI FI’s top-rated original scripted series for the week, but came in behind Ghost Hunters International (1.7), ECW wrestling (1.4), and Scare Tactics (1.2).
According to executive producer Joseph Mallozzi (blog), the following episode, “Broken Ties,” bounced back to a 1.2 rating. SCI FI is expected to confirm that number next Monday.
“Yes, to date, Season Five has been outperforming Season Four,” Mallozzi said. “All very heartening but, again, I caution fans from assuming a decision on the show’s sixth season will be solely ratings-based.”
Atlantis is taking the week off for the Olympic opening ceremonies, so tune into the next brand new episode on Friday, August 15! “Ghost In the Machine” will pick up on a major story thread from last season.