BBCA’s Saturday Series Set High Marks

BBC America’s new Supernatural Saturday line-up trended tops in social and recorded one of the channel’s all-time highest-rated nights, led by more than 2 million fans in aggregate tuning in for Doctor Who: The Bells of Saint John on Saturday, March 30, and after that, the debut of the new original drama Orphan Black scored more than 1 million viewers including replays.

The new original comedy talk show premiere, The Nerdist, was watched by nearly half a million viewers on the night and, according to the network, citing Trenderr TV figures that exclude sports programming, the shows ranked Nos. 1 (Doctor Who), 2 (Orphan Black) and 3 (The Nerdist) in social media on the night.

Perry Simon, BBC America's general manager, said in a release: “This was a big night for BBC America. All three shows attracted mass critical acclaim and clearly earned the fans’ stamp of approval. They not only watched in big numbers, but they also shared their enthusiasm, sending the shows to the top of the social charts.”

Drilling further into the Nielsen's, Doctor Who recorded a total of 2.019 million viewers in P2+ Live+SD Cume (over four airings), the network said on Tuesday. In its 8 p.m. premiere it delivered 1,496,000 in P2+, BBC America's second-best telecast ever after Doctor Who's series 7.1 premiere, which was 1,555,000 on Sept. 1, 2012) and 737,000 in adults ages 25-54 (the network's second-best telecast ever after Doctor Who: The Snowmen, 807,000, this past Christmas). From 8-9 p.m., Doctor Who ranked as the No. 3 program in cable among ages 25-54, the network said.

Orphan Black delivered 1,026,000 in P2+ Live+SD Cume over multiple airings. The 9 p.m. premiere was watched by 684,000 in P2+ and 375,000 in A25-54.

The Nerdist was watched by 430,000 in P2+ Live+SD Cume. Its 10 p.m. premiere delivered 325,000 in P2+ and 176,000 in A25-54.

In Saturday prime, BBC America ranked as the No. 3 network in cable in adults ages 25-54, the network said, citing Nielsen Media Research.

Pictured: Orphan Black star Tatiana Maslany. © Steve Wilkie for BBC America.