'Homeland' Returns Up in Season Two Opener

'Dexter' also grows to give Showtime best Sunday ever

By Andrea Morabito -- Broadcasting & Cable, 10/1/2012 3:32:58 PM

Fresh off its Emmy win for best drama series a week ago, Showtime's Homeland returned to an audience of 1.73 million viewers at 10 p.m. Sunday, up 60% from its series premiere last fall.

Compared to its season one finale, Homeland grew 2% in the hour. Across its three plays Sunday night, Homeland averaged 2.07 million viewers, up 50% compared to the season one premiere night and up 2% from the finale.

Earlier in the night, the seventh season premiere of Dexter delivered 2.4 million viewers at 9 p.m. and 3.04 million for the night, increasing 10% versus its season six premiere in both measures.

Dexter and Homeland, which is poised to become the network's second most-watched series, combined to give Showtime its largest Sunday audience ever.

Following its Emmys victory, Homeland is on pace to deliver 1 million On Demand views from last week, according to Showtime.