Doctor Who Blog

Ratings Success in the US

image

Although the overall numbers aren’t the largest Doctor Who has ever seen in the US, the week of July 20th saw Doctor Who and its spin-off series Torchwood play a major role in garnering BBC America’s best-ever ratings, according to this report  The episodes that did the trick were all five episodes ofTorchwood: Children of Earth (including part 5 getting the highest ever rating for BBC America at 847,000) and Planet of the Dead, all broadcast in the same week, along with another new UK telefantasy series, Being Human (which shares some of the same writers as Who and Torchwood).

Although BBC America’s profile isn’t the largest in the US just yet and these numbers are lower overall than what Who tended to get on the US Sci-Fi Channel (mainly due to the latter having a wider viewership in general), it is not every day that we get to hear of Doctor Who and its spin-offs getting the highest ever ratings for a US channel!

The report also notes that BBC America has picked up Matt Smith’s first season in the role (and no, they don’t seem to know what to call it either!)

3 Comments...

I would imagine they’d be fairly safe calling it ‘Doctor Who’. 

cheese  wink  tongue wink

Posted by Julie  on  08/13  at  12:27 PM

I don’t understand why people are so concerned over the “lower” ratings on both BBC America and Space. If it had any bearing on the future of the show, then OK. But regardless what the number is, it’s the #1 show on BBCA, and Space’s numbers were good for that network too. The fact fewer people are able to see it on the broadcasters is irrelevant, given the many others who will download or buy the DVDs if they can’t see it on TV. The only ratings numbers that anyone here in North America should care about are those on the BBC. As long as the show keeps scoring high, it’ll survive, and in turn we’ll be able to keep seeing it, either on a rebroadcaster or through home video or “other” channels.

Posted by Alex  on  08/20  at  11:41 PM

Will Doctor Who ever see her again?

Posted by xerocomix  on  10/01  at  02:41 AM

Post a comment

Name:

Email:

Location:

Remember my personal information

Notify me of follow-up comments?

Submit the word you see below:


Recent Stories

Issue 164

Rise And Fall (Spring 2011 season reviews): Enlightenment reviews the stories from Season… um, it’s 6.1 this year, right? Plus:

  • The quiet heroism of Rory Williams
  • In praise of an asexual Doctor
  • News and reviews of Doctor Who books, DVDs, and audios, including the Series Five box set!

Enlightenment Delays

We’ve had a number of queries from members regarding the delayed publication of Enlightenment this year. The DWIN Executive wants to share the following message concerning Enlightenment with DWIN members. Read more 

The Doctor, The Widow and the Wardrobe on Christmas Day on SPACE!

For the first time in Canada, the Doctor Who Christmas Special will actually air on Christmas Day! December 25 at 9pm

TARDIS File 06-13: The Wedding of River Song

Following the wedding at the top of an Ancient Ameri-Egyptian Pyramid, you are now cordially invited to attend the reception below…

TARDIS File 06-12: Closing Time

The TARDIS Files are popping in to see an old friend before they have to go…


Is something broken?

©Doctor Who Information Network (DWIN) 2009