Doctor Who has achieved a record prime-time audience for BBC America as viewers prepare to say goodbye to David Tennant in the title role.
The Waters of Mars, which aired on BBC1 last month, had 1.1 million viewers on BBC America on Saturday 19 December.
It is the first of three Doctor Who specials airing on Saturday nights on BBC America, culminating with Tennant's farewell show on 2 January.
The programme has a cult following in the US but attempts to reach a wider audience with the 1996 TV movie starring Paul McGann, which broadcast on the Fox network, failed.
"The final specials starring David Tennant have opened the door for new audiences to this iconic series while taking longtime fans on an incredible journey," said Richard De Croce, senior vice-president of programming for BBC America.
"Tennant's remaining two specials, The End of Time, part one and part two, are the most anticipated episodes in the history of the series – which is why we're airing them just a day after their UK premiere."
The End of Time, written by executive producer and lead writer Russell T Davies, will guest star John Simm, Timothy Dalton, Catherine Tate and Bernard Cribbins. Tennant will regenerate as his successor in the role, Matt Smith.
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Hier, la chaîne britannique BBC One a diffusé la première partie de ''The End of Time'', la dernière aventure en date de la série ''Doctor Who''. Ce double téléfilm de fin d'année présente, de nouveau, un danger menaçant l'humanité qu'essaye d'empêcher l'acteur David Tennant sous la direction du producteur Russel T. Davies. Tous deux jouent ainsi leur dernier acte dans cette fiction.

Signature de la série, la surprise, le mystère et l'énormité du danger final, révélé dans les dernières secondes, permettent de relancer la curiosité des spectateurs jusqu'à la deuxième partie qui sera diffusée le premier janvier 2010. Dans le même temps, ''Doctor Who'' dynamise la chaîne BBC America.