LONDON — The first episode of U.S. sci-fi skein “Bionic Woman” defied gravity by scoring the highest ever audience for U.K. youth-skewed niche web ITV2.
The one–hour debut, starring Michelle Ryan, grabbed a 9.2% share – some 2.2 million viewers – on Tuesday evening, more than six times the slot average of 292,000 (1.5%), according to overnight viewing figures.
Last year the sexually explicit “The Secret Diary of a Call Girl,” featuring Billie Piper as an upscale prostitute and made by U.K. shingle Tiger Aspect, drew one of ITV2’s best ever audiences when the skein’s debut show was watched by 1.8 million in September.
The success of “Bionic Woman,” which airs on NBC in the U.S., further underlines the important role of U.S. fare to Blighty's digital channels.
ITV2, the U.K.’s most popular multi-channel web, already scores with “American Idol," "Entourage" and "Supernatural."
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