TV Guide is reporting that the SyFy Channel will be airing the third season of the fantasy show Merlin.
The show, which is a co-production between NBC and Britain’s BBC (where it runs under the name The Adventures of Merlin), ran last summer on NBC, but ratings were poor by broadcast network standards: it had an average of 4.17 million HH/viewers per episode.
For its second season, Merlin gravitated to SyFy, which is part of the NBC Universal Group. Ratings were considerably lower — an average of 1.28 million HH/viewers — but it’s been a strong performer by SyFy standards, increasing its time-slot by over 80%.
The third season of the series has already been filmed for U.K. broadcast.
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No US air date yet for the third series, but I have heard that it will be airing in the UK this Saturday (11 September), which means that many a website will begin hosting it by Sunday morning for those of us who live elsewhere.
Unless TVGuide changed their story from this morning, the total viewership for Syfy that they quoted was 1.72 million per episode, not 1.28. MUCH higher than what you’re saying.
They’re using a different kind of measurement than my source: “total viewers” (like if 2 people are watching the same TV) and “household viewers,” which is generally the more common number used in TV ratings. But I’ll clarify.
Can’t wait for Season 3. The teaser shown at Comic-Con made it look like the series is really amping it up. BTW, any news about when the actual airdates in the US will be? I haven’t see it announced anywhere; just thought I’d ask. Thanks for the report!
Hasn’t been announced (I don’t think). But I wouldn’t expect it any sooner than next winter. :-(
Thanks for the reply, Brent. Wish we could get it sooner!