NEW YORK – July 9, 2012 – Syfy has renewed its hit unscripted competition series Total Blackout – the channel’s highest rated new program of 2012 – for 16 new episodes. The second season of eight episodes will begin Tuesday, November 13 at 9PM (ET/PT).

In its first season, Total Blackout, hosted by Jaleel White (Family Matters, Dancing with the Stars), averaged 1.2 million total viewers, 673,000 Adults 25-54 and 648,000 Adults 18-49 since premiering Wednesday, April 25.

The series also ranked #10 among all ad-supported cable networks in Adults 18-49 and #8 in Adults P25-54 during its 10-11PM (ET/PT) time period.

Said Mark Stern, President, Original Content, Syfy, and Co-Head Original Content, Universal Cable Productions: “By skillfully using contestants’ own imaginations against them, Total Blackout has become a compelling new hit, and a great addition to our growing slate of unscripted programming. We’re excited to be back in business with Jaleel White, and to see the new challenges Fremantle and their producers will cook up for the new season of this funny and offbeat series.”

Total Blackout is a half-hour, extreme game show in which contestants battle each other and their fears in a series of challenges played in complete darkness. There are no lights, no blindfolds and no-holds barred as the players face their anxieties and unexpected surprises in a series of nerve-wracking games.

The international hit series is produced by FremantleMedia North America (American Idol, The X Factor) and was created by Henrik Nielsen (Can You Duet?, Danish versions of The X Factor, Got Talent and Pop Idol). Nielsen and Scott St. John (Deal or No Deal, America’s Got Talent, The Choice) are executive producers and Noah Bonnett (101 Ways to Leave a Game Show, BrainSurge) is co-executive producer.