Eh, not a blockbuster, but probably good enough to make it worth Sci-Fi’s wire to use it while their other shows are on hiatus.
US Debut Ratings
(Shaun Lyon, Gallifrey One)
According to information from the programming department of the Sci-Fi Channel, Doctor Who did well its first night in broadcast. 1.58 million viewers tuned in to watch “Rose,” says the report, with 1.61 million viewers watching “The End of the World” and .78 million viewers each watching “Rose” and “The End of the World” in their 11pm and 12am repeat slots. These numbers are somewhat lower than the standard viewing the channel received for its broadcasts of its original series “Stargate: Atlantis” and “Battlestar Galactica” in the same time slots, but higher than any broadcast of syndicated series that evening (including repeats of “Firefly” and “John Doe”).
Now, renewing it to show the next season or two will depend on how it holds up over the next 13 weeks. If it is steady or up, they almost certainly will go for the next couple series. If it is down…
Of course, they are still going to be way behind. New episodes in the UK will be starting in just a few weeks.
To get a REAL idea as to how many people are watching they would need to add the number of people tuning in to watch the “new” eps with the number of those in the Sci-Fi viewing area finding OTHER ways to watch it.
HOw do the figure out how many people watch anyway?
How do they know whole communities aren’t having Dr. Who parties with a whole auditorium full of people and one big screen tv? Who-vian dorks like to congregate to share their obsession?
Ratings have been OK but not great. Right on the borderline of “worth it” most likely.