A cable channel is touting Sunday’s premiere of a new drama series as the highest-rated series premiere in the channel’s history. The channel is BBC America, which rolled out the new period cop drama “Copper” to record numbers.

“Copper,” from Oscar winner Barry Levinson, Emmy winner Tom Fontana, Oscar nominee Will Rokos and Cineflix Studios President Christina Wayne, delivered a total audience of 1.8 million viewers Sunday night, including 1.1 million for the 10 p.m. premiere.

Said Perry Simon, General Manager, Channels, BBC Worldwide America: “This is a great result for BBC America, as our distribution continues to grow — now approaching 80 million homes. The response to ‘Copper’ has been tremendous and we’re off to a promising start.”

The series, set in 1864 New York City, tracks Irish-immigrant detective Kevin Corcoran, played by Tom Weston-Jones. Click here to read the BBC America press release announcing the ratings milestone.