Stargate Universe Ratings Rise to Lofty Levels, Merlin Does Well

Hey Stargate Universe and Merlin Fans,

Well it is just what we expected! In just a few days after our pre-reviews of Stargate Universe were released, the numbers for Stargate Universe viewers have risen to lofty levels!

This is great news but is not really a surprise since our own informal feedback from the fans, including Twitter hash tag statistics confirmed that most fans of Stargate have come to embrace the return of Stargate Universe in “Space” created by MGM and Bridge Studios and distributed in the United States on the SyFy cable distribution.

Here at WHR we fully expect that the viewing statistics for Stargate Universe will continue to rise when the next episode “Divided” is aired in the United States and Canada on April 09, 2010. WHR will continue our pre air date review series of Stargate Universe all this week. Our next pre review by ValaBlack will post soon.

Included below is today’s Press release from NBC Universal SyFy for your edification and enjoyment.

April 05, 2010

SYFY’S FRIDAY NIGHT SPRING SEASON OFF TO ROUSING START AS STARGATE UNIVERSE DRAWS 1.5 MILLION TOTAL VIEWERS, UP 11% VERSUS SEASON ONE FINALE

MERLIN ENCHANTS 1.3 MILLION VIEWERS

NEW YORK – April 5, 2010 – Kicking off the spring season, Syfy’s new Friday night one-two punch of Stargate Universe and Merlin delivered 1.5 million total viewers and 1.3 million total viewers, respectively, on Friday, April 2, 2010.

At 9PM (ET/PT), the SGU spring premiere was up 11% in total viewers versus the December 2009 fall season finale. The series also grabbed 936,000 Adults 25-54 (+11%) and 768,000 Adults 18-49 (+12%), while averaging a 1.2 HH rating (+9%).

Following at 10PM (ET/PT), the U.S. Television Premiere of Merlin’s second season bewitched 738,000 Adults 25-54 and 553,000 Adults18-49 along with 1.0 HH rating.

This Merlin performance was up vs. the April 2009 debut of Primeval — the previous UK scripted series to premiere on Syfy — by +52% in Adults 25-54, +45% in Adults 18-49, +25% in HH ratings and +18% in total viewers.

Online at syfy.com: Stargate Universe delivered 319K page views and 164K video streams the week of March 29th, the highest week since December 2009 Merlin delivered 127K page views and 23K video streams the week of March 29th, its most trafficked week ever

Stargate Universe
Edgier and younger in tone, SGU takes the franchise in a dynamic new direction, appealing to longtime Stargate fans and first-time viewers alike. The series stars Robert Carlyle, Louis Ferreira, Brian J. Smith, Elyse Levesque, David Blue, Alaina Huffman, Jamil Walker Smith, Ming-Na and Lou Diamond Phillips. (added by WHR: Guest Starring Julia Benson, Jennifer Spence, Patrick Gilmore, Peter Kelamis, and Tygh Runyan)

Robert Cooper and Brad Wright, of Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis, serve as executive producers and writers. SGU is produced and distributed by MGM Worldwide Television Distribution.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc., through its operating subsidiaries, is actively engaged in the worldwide production and distribution of motion pictures, television programming, home video, interactive media, music and licensed merchandise. The company owns the world’s largest library of modern films, comprising around 4,100 titles. Operating units include Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc., United Artists Films Inc., MGM Television Entertainment Inc., MGM Networks Inc., MGM Domestic Networks LLC, MGM Distribution Co, MGM International Television Distribution Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Home Entertainment LLC, MGM ON STAGE, MGM Music, MGM Worldwide Digital Media, MGM Consumer Products and MGM Interactive. In addition, MGM has ownership interests in international TV channels reaching nearly 120 countries. MGM ownership is as follows: Providence Equity Partners (29%), TPG (21%), Sony Corporation of America (20%), Comcast (20%), DLJ Merchant Banking Partners (7%) and Quadrangle Group (3%). For more information, visit http://www.mgm.com.

Merlin
An imaginative new twist on a timeless legend, Merlin is set in the mythical city of Camelot, before history began. It’s a fantastical realm of legendary beasts and mysterious peoples, and a dangerous world where magic has been banned by the ruthless tyrant, Uther Pendragon.

Merlin stars Colin Morgan as Merlin, Bradley James as Prince Arthur, Anthony Head as King Uther, Richard Wilson as Gaius, Katie McGrath as Morgana and Angel Coulby as Gwen. Merlin is executive produced by Julian Murphy and Johnny Capps for Shine Television.

FremantleMedia is one of the leading creators and producers of entertainment brands in the world. FremantleMedia is part of the RTL Group, Europe’s largest television and radio broadcast company, which is in turn 90 percent owned by Bertelsmann AG, one of the world’s major media and entertainment companies. FremantleMedia’s worldwide production arm is responsible for many of the world’s highest rated prime time entertainment, drama, serial drama and factual entertainment programmes. FremantleMedia Enterprises is the brand extension arm of FremantleMedia, offering a one-stop-shop for all Licensing, Distribution and Home Entertainment around the world. The FremantleMedia Group (which includes talkbackTHAMES, UFA and Grundy amongst others) has operations in 22 countries, one of the most comprehensive global networks, creating over 14,000 hours of programming a year, rolling out more than 60 formats and managing over 300 individual titles. FremantleMedia has some of the world’s most sought after and long running formats in its catalogue, and globally, produces such programmes as: Idols (co-produced with 19 Productions in the US), The X Factor (co-produced with Syco in the UK), Got Talent (co-produced with Syco in the UK and the US), Neighbours, The Bill, Family Feud, The Price is Right, Farmer Wants A Wife and Hole In The Wall.

Syfy is a media destination for imagination-based entertainment. With year round acclaimed original series, events, blockbuster movies, classic science fiction and fantasy programming, a dynamic Web site (www.Syfy.com), and a portfolio of adjacent business (Syfy Ventures), Syfy is a passport to limitless possibilities. Originally launched in 1992 as SCI FI Channel, and currently in more than 96 million homes, Syfy is a network of NBC Universal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies. (Syfy. Imagine greater.)

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Best Regards,

Kenn of #TeamWHR