Featured News - Current News - Archived News - News Categories

`Helix` `Pilot`: `First snap.` (Syfy photo by Philippe Bosse)
"Helix" "Pilot": "First snap." (Syfy photo by Philippe Bosse)

Syfy's 'Helix' premiere sets new channel ratings records

by jmaloni

Submitted

Fri, Jan 17th 2014 03:55 pm

Reaches epidemic proportions with 64 percent gain among adults 18-49, 57 percent among adults 25-54 and 53 percent among total viewers

Intensifying the infection of the American television audience, Syfy's new drama "Helix" shattered channel ratings records for L+3 growth, soaring 64 percent in Adults 18-49 (1.2 million), 57 percent among Adults 25-54 (1.4 million) and 53 percent among total viewers (2.8 million).

This feverish percentage and absolute L+SD to L+3 growth for the "Helix" debut (Friday, Jan. 10, 10 p.m.) are the highest for any Syfy original series premiere since Nielsen first recorded L+3 in 2007.

The "Helix" 24-hour marathon, which ran through Saturday, Jan. 11, at 10 p.m., reached 9 million unduplicated total viewers, based on L+SD and L+3.

"Helix" is an intense thriller about a team of scientists from the Centers for Disease Control who travel to the high-tech research facility, Arctic Biosystems, to investigate a possible disease outbreak, only to find themselves pulled into a terrifying life-and-death struggle that may hold the key to mankind's salvation or total annihilation. However, the lethal threat is just the tip of the iceberg, and, as the virus evolves, the chilling truth begins to unravel.

Billy Campbell ("Killing Lincoln," "The Killing") stars as Dr. Alan Farragut, leader of the Centers for Disease Control outbreak field team called upon to investigate and control a potential outbreak. Hiroyuki Sanada ("The Wolverine," "47 Ronin") also stars as Dr. Hiroshi Hatake, director of Arctic Biosystems and its mysterious viral research program.

"Helix" also stars Kyra Zagorsky ("Supernatural") as Dr. Julia Walker; Mark Ghanimé ("Emily Owens, M.D.") as Major Sergio Balleseros; Jordan Hayes ("House at the End of the Street") as Dr. Sarah Jordan; Meegwun Fairbrother as Daniel Aerov; Catherine Lemieux ("White House Down") as Dr. Doreen Boyle, and Neil Napier ("Riddick") as Dr. Peter Farragut.

Ronald D. Moore ("Battlestar Galactica," "Outlander"), Steven Maeda ("Lost," "The X-Files") who is also showrunner, Lynda Obst ("Contact," "Sleepless in Seattle"), and Brad Turner ("Hawaii Five-0," "24") are executive producers. Director and producer Jeffrey Reiner ("Friday Night Lights") directed the premiere episode, which was written by creator and co-executive producer, Cameron Porsandeh.

"Helix" airs Fridays at 10 p.m. on Syfy.

Related Articles

Hometown News

View All News