FX's 'True Blood' launches to 292,000

New vampire drama True Blood launched to 292k (1.8%) last night, according to early figures.

The series - starring Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer - has built up a loyal audience in the US, growing to 4 million viewers in recent weeks.

Last night it helped FX to fourth place in the 10pm hour among the multichannels, behind only BBC Three, ITV2 and Dave.

The audience is roughly on par with the 308k (2.3%) who tuned in for FX's series premiere of Dexter on Sunday, July 8, 2007.

Elsewhere last night, a repeat of ITV1's Doc Martin beat a new episode of Hotel Babylon on BBC One. The Martin Clunes drama grabbed 3.99m (18.5%) in the 9pm hour, while its rival managed just 3.25m (15.1%).

The arrival of five new housemates saw Big Brother reach its highest audience since the launch show six weeks' ago. The 9pm highlights show picked up 2.68m (12.4%), then at 10.30pm, 2.76m (18.5%) watched the new contestants enter the house. Before BB, documentary Farrah's Story interested 1.26m (6%).

Live coverage of the Proms averaged 980k (4.6%) for BBC Two between 8pm and 10.30pm.

On Five, Air Force Afghanistan managed 924k (4.3%) in the 8pm hour, then NCIS had 1.51m (7%). Law & Order: Criminal Intent followed with 1.47m (7.8%).

Airline put in 3.29m (15.7%) for ITV1 between 8pm and 8.30pm, and on BBC One, As Seen On TV appealed to 2.73m (12.5%) at 8.30pm.

Overall, ITV1 was ahead in primetime with an average share of 23% to BBC One's 18.6%. Channel 4 was third with 9.5% (+1: 0.8%), followed by Five with 6.1% and BBC Two with 5.4%.

BARB ratings data supplied by Attentional