Syfy’s continual ratings propoganda surrounding Stargate Universe (SGU) always states how well it is doing versus certain measured time frames.
One of their latest press releases stated that SGU averaged almost 2.9 million viewers through October and that number was 36% more viewers than the last season of Stargate Atlantis. They keep bringin it up, but they tend to forget that Stargate Atlantis premiered in 2004 to 4.2 million LIVE viewers. Without the advantage of 7 days of time-shifted viewers clocking in.
Syfy / NBC made a big move in how they changed up the Stargate franchise with Stargate Universe. They intentionally made it more character driven and subsequently, less humor filled. It’s torqued many franchise fans while still drawing a few new viewers who can tolerate the depressing environment of SGU.
I wanted to test the waters with TV watchers and I put up a survey on the People’s Choice Awards website, asking how people felt about the show. More specifically, how they feel about the Ancient’s Communication Stones.
I was surprised at how close the survey came out.
I asked: Do you think Stargate Universe is too driven by the character stories?
The responses to the options surprised me:
- Lose the Stones!!! (Fans know what I mean.) : 30%
- No… Character stories help understand where they’re coming from : 25%
- Yes… they need less character story, more action :23%
- Could someone please explore that dang ship already!! :22%
It was amazing how close the survey was, considering how many folk on different forums have made so much noise about the stones. (FYI: I could have reduced the options to 3.. since the 1st and 3rd items are closely related. Then that would have put the winning numbers in the “Lost the Stones” category.)
To be honest, I have to wonder if they’ll hear the fans and change a few things or keep the trend going and bank on more people hopping on board as the deep-space depression continues.
I hope that they somehow get some new life back into the show like it used to be. I don’t mind it as it is, but still…
