WGM American announced on Monday that the network's witch drama Salem had been renewed for a second season.
The renewal is an early one as the show is only three episodes into its 13-episode first season, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The move by WGN isn't especially surprising though, when you look at the ratings the drama has pulled in. The premiere managed to average 1.5 million viewers and 650,000 in the advertiser-important 18-49 demographic for its first telecast. The numbers rise to 3.4 million for viewers and 1.5 million in the demo when taking into account DVR.
The initial numbers were good enough for Salem to be WGN's highest-rated telecast in almost seven years.
Production on the next season of the drama from Brannon Braga and Adam Simon is set to start later in 2014, with a premiere eyed for 2015. Braga said, "The fans have been fantastic and we plan to continue keeping them on the edge of their seats."
Salem imaginatively recounts the 17th century Massachusetts witch trials and stars Shane West, Janet Montgomery, Xander Berkeley and others.
Salem is WGN's first original drama series and likely gives the cable network confidence about its second project, Manhattan, due out later this summer.