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Ronald D. Moore's BATTLESTAR GALACTICA Premieres to Record Ratings for Sci-Fi

By Steve Krutzler / 18:03, 18 January 2005 / General Genre/SciFi

Former STAR TREK writer/producer Ronald D. Moore has reason to celebrate, as his new Sci-Fi Channel series BATTLESTAR GALACTICA set ratings records for the cable network with its Friday premiere.

According to a press release circulated by the network, BSG was watched by 3.1 million viewers and becomes the highest-rated January program ever on Sci-Fi. BSG's premiere is second only to the network's summer 2004 premiere of STARGATE: ATLANTIS. With a 2.6 household rating, BSG delivered #1 performances among cable networks on Friday in several demographic categories, including M25-54, M18-49 and M18-34.

The PR goes on to compare the show to Friday's first-run presentation of STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE: "BATTLESTAR won a decisive victory over UPN's ENTERPRISE, outperforming its new episode in total viewers, P25-54 (2.2 million vs. 1.7 million) and P18-49 (1.8 million vs. 1.5 million)."

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA continues its season on the Sci-Fi Channel, Fridays at 10p following STARGATE: SG-1 and STARGATE: ATLANTIS.

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RE: 3.1 million, is that all? | Report this post to moderator
By: Bella Oxmyx (Odo's file, contact) @ 00:03:40 on Jan 19, 2005

Why do some people feel compelled to turn Ronald D. Moore into their personal archnemesis? You can't tell me there isn't a component of wish fulfillment in these attempts to view him as some sort of vain, over-reaching figure, setting himself up for a fall.

I doubt Moore himself sat down and typed up that PR statement -- that's what they have Public Relations people do! That statement probably wasn't really even directed towards fans. Remember, Star Trek is still the most recognizable sf brand name out there, but at the same time, it's also well known that the franchise isn't doing that well. The PR folks probably compared BSG's and Enterprise's ratings to ensure that people get the word that Battlestar Galactica is a healthy franchise--and that includes current and potential advertisers.

As far as the numbers go, for a cable show to have ratings that beat out or are comparable to a network show in the same genre is a big deal (admittedly, UPN is the weakest network).

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I'm not turning him into my.... by MoulinRouge @ 00:14:31 on Jan 19
    RE: I'm not turning him into my.... by AX @ 10:54:00 on Jan 19
       Thank you for the suggestion by MoulinRouge @ 14:38:41 on Jan 19
    RE: I'm not turning him into my.... by steveleenow @ 01:29:56 on Jan 19
       RE: I'm not turning him into my.... by MoulinRouge @ 01:34:56 on Jan 19
          RE: I'm not turning him into my.... by steveleenow @ 10:18:40 on Jan 19

RE: 3.1 million, is that all? | Report this post to moderator
By: sean_skroht (Odo's file, contact) @ 02:03:42 on Jan 19, 2005

QUOTE: "But obviously it's very important to Ron Moore and company to "beat" ENT. That makes Moore seem a little insecure and petty. He's got critical praise. Why doesn't he let his work stand on its own merit? Maybe he expected a little more than 3.1 million for a premiere?"

Thats an incredibly ill informed and immature comment. Do you honestly think that Ron Moore cares how Enterprise is doing. His past comments regarding his thoughts on BSG demonstrate a person who is very proud of the show he is working on. Who of us has worked on a project and not been proud of it. We all take a measure of pride in the things we do, and if we dont then we're going to pretty miserable with life.

In the past, when he has made comments comparing his show with Star Trek, he has not attempted to bash Star Trek, but has tried to emphasize how much he has tried to avoid slipping into the overly familiar and tired formula that many sci-fi shows seem to fall into.

I personally cant blame a guy who really wants to try something different even if people feel his efforts arent that original.

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RE: 3.1 million, is that all? | Report this post to moderator
By: Dukat (Odo's file, contact, web site) @ 23:43:01 on Jan 18, 2005

Oh I think you are being hard on Ron. He was pretty much pushed off Voyager by Braga, and Berman let him go-- He has this new baby and is proud and is pumping it up as much as he is allowed. I think the side benefit is that he gets to rub it in Berman, Braga and Paramounts face a little.

By the way, Ron used to look a little clean cut during DS9, he is looking rather shaggy these days, no?

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RE: 3.1 million, is that all? by Bella Oxmyx @ 01:10:10 on Jan 19

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RE: 3.1 million, is that all? | Report this post to moderator By: Bella Oxmyx (Odo's file, contact) @ 00:03:40 on Jan 19, 2005

RE: 3.1 million, is that all? | Report this post to moderator By: sean_skroht (Odo's file, contact) @ 02:03:42 on Jan 19, 2005

RE: 3.1 million, is that all? | Report this post to moderator By: Dukat (Odo's file, contact, web site) @ 23:43:01 on Jan 18, 2005

RE: 3.1 million, is that all? | Report this post to moderator
By: Bella Oxmyx (Odo's file, contact) @ 00:03:40 on Jan 19, 2005

RE: 3.1 million, is that all? | Report this post to moderator
By: sean_skroht (Odo's file, contact) @ 02:03:42 on Jan 19, 2005

RE: 3.1 million, is that all? | Report this post to moderator
By: Dukat (Odo's file, contact, web site) @ 23:43:01 on Jan 18, 2005