Ratings down for ‘First Contact’

The first U.S. presidential debate didn’t help “First Contact,” the first half of Stargate Atlantis‘s mid-season two-parter. The episode turned in a 1.1 average household rating on September 26.

This is down one tenth of a point from “Tracker” the previous week, which earned a 1.2. All numbers are “Live + Same Day,” and do not account for the big boost that Atlantis enjoys from DVR-delayed viewing.

In “First Contact,” SG-1’s Dr. Daniel Jackson (guest star Michael Shanks) visits the city of Atlantis and helps discover a secret lab hidden by the Lantean scientist Janus some 10,000 years ago. But the discovery brings a powerful and technologically advanced new race knocking.

Once again at the top of the SCI FI Channel’s ratings stack for the week was Ghost Hunters, which earned a 1.8 rating. Eureka turned in a 1.5 for its mid-season finale, and ECW edged out Atlantis with a 1.2.

While the presidential debate certainly grabbed viewers from all channels, a loss of one-tenth of a point is certainly not dramatic for Stargate. Two other episodes in the first half of the current season have also scored 1.1 ratings (“The Seed” and “Whispers”).

Ratings for the second half of the two-parter, “The Lost Tribe,” are expected to be available in two weeks.

Catch a brand new episode of Stargate Atlantis this Friday at its new time, 9 p.m. Eastern and Pacific (8 p.m. Central) on the SCI FI Channel!

(Thanks to Morjana for the tip)