TV Ratings: Stargate Atlantis and Sanctuary Finales

Here are some good news for fans of the Sci Fi Channel’s Friday night block: both Stargate: Atlantis and Sanctuary averaged roughly 2 million viewers for their season finales last Friday. If 2 million eyeballs doesn’t sound like a lot, you’d be wrong; for a niche basic cable channel, that’s pretty damn good. Atlantis’ “Enemy at the Gate” series finale episode averaged 973,000 Adults 18-49, while Sanctuary’s first season finale averaged 900,000 adults 18-49.

What that basically means is that Sanctuary has more than sufficiently held onto the departing Atlantis’ audience. This is definitely good news for Sanctuary, which I was afraid might slip in the ratings after its phenomenal series premiere. It now appears as if the show will hold steady, and if anything, may continue to improve. The first season is always the hardest to survive, just ask fans of The Dresden Files. But most of all, I’m psyched for Amanda Tapping. Hopefully Sanctuary will stick around for a long time.

I’m not sure when the Sci Fi Channel plans on slotting their third Stargate show, Universe, but chances are it’ll be in the Friday night time slot with Sanctuary as the lead-in once again. This is no time to start messing with the formula.