Syfy's 'Sharknado' hits viewership highs - in third airing

Devours 2.1 million total viewers 

All-day "Sharkathon" movie festival leaps 50 percent

Powered by Igniter-driven social media buzz and unprecedented press coverage, the Shark feeding frenzy continued on Syfy Saturday night when the global sensation "Sharknado" feasted on new ratings records among total viewers, Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54 - in its third airing.

"Sharknado" consumed 2.1 million total viewers, 863,000 Adults 25-54 and 791,000 Adults 18-49, while averaging a 1.4 household rating from 9-11 p.m. (ET/PT), becoming the most watched original movie encore in Syfy history.

The movie's audience has continued to climb from the July 11 premiere (1.4 million total viewers) and the initial encore on July 18 (1.9 million total viewers).

"Sharknado" ranked as the No. 1 movie of the day on cable among Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54. Fueled by "Sharknado," Syfy was the No. 3 network in the 9-11 p.m. (ET/PT) time period on television (broadcast and cable) among Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54.

Syfy's all-day July 27 "Sharkathon" movie festival from 9 a.m.-5 a.m., which included classics such as "Sharktopus," "Two-Headed Shark Attack" and "Swamp Shark," swallowed 1.1 million total viewers (up 50 percent), 391,000 Adults 25-54 (up 32 percent) and 352,000 Adults 18-49 (up 45 percent), versus the year-to-date time period average.

"Sharknado" will have its final airing of summer 2013 on Thursday, Aug. 22, at 7 p.m. (ET/PT), leading into the premiere of the original movie "Ghost Shark" at 9 p.m. (ET/PT). "Ghost Shark" is about a great white shark, tortured and killed by a fisherman, who returns as an unfriendly ghost to exact vengeance on the human race. The movie stars Mackenzie Rosman ("7^th Heaven") and Richard Moll ("Night Court").

There will be a special midnight screening of "Sharknado" in more than 200 select theaters nationwide on Friday, Aug. 2.

"Sharknado" 2 will hit New York City in July 2014 on Syfy.