SyFy Hypes The WWE SmackDown! Record Rating

SyFy sent out the following today?

SEASON THREE MERLIN PREMIERE ON SYFY BEWITCHES 1.34 MILLION TOTAL VIEWERS. WWE SMACKDOWN? DELIVERS HIGHEST HOUSEHOLD RATING EVER ON SYFY

SYFY #2 CABLE NETWORK IN PRIME AMONG ADULTS 18-49 AND ADULTS 25-54

NEW YORK ? January 10, 2011 ? The season three premiere of Merlin on Syfy entranced more than 1.34 million total viewers on Friday, January 7, during its 10-11PM (ET/PT) premiere, up five percent versus the 2010 average.

The viewership was boosted by its Friday night tag team partner WWE SmackDown?, which pinned 2.845 million total viewers as the 8-10PM (ET/PT) lead-in. This was the second highest performance for the series behind only the October 15 telecast (2.88 million). The 1.95 HH rating was the highest household rating ever for SmackDown.

The program also delivered 1.1 million Adults 18-49 (up 41% week-to-week) and 1.04 million Adults 25-54 (up 19% week-to-week). This also represents a Syfy high for SmackDown among Adults18-34 (454,000).

In 8-11PM prime, Merlin and SmackDown propelled Syfy to the #2 cable network for Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54.

A host of new guest stars joins the regular Merlin cast of Colin Morgan, Bradley James, Anthony Head, Katie McGrath and Angel Coulby to enthrall audiences over the 13-week third season. Harry Melling (The Harry Potter Series) portrays Gilli, Warwick Davis (The Harry Potter Series, The Chronicles of Narnia) will play Grettir, Miriam Margoyles (The Harry Potter Series, Being Julia) will play Grunhilda, and Mark Williams (The Harry Potter Series, The Fast Show) is the voice of a mischievous Goblin. Guest stars from the previous season such as Emilia Fox (The Pianist, Ballet Shoes) who plays Morgause, and Santiago Cabrera (Heroes, Che), who plays Launcelot, will also be returning.

Legendary actor John Hurt once again provides the Voice of the Great Dragon.