Taken, a TV mini-series produced by Steven Spielberg, has broken viewing records on the Sci Fi channel in the United States.

The first episode of the 20-hour, 10-day programming marathon gave the network more than six million viewers and talk of a follow-up series has begun.

Spielberg has a long history with science fiction

"We're ecstatic about the numbers," said Darryl Frank, co-head of DreamWorks TV, which produced the show for Sci Fi.

Taken follows the stories of three families over 50 years of alien abductions.

It will be shown on BBC Two and BBC Choice in early 2003.

Young girl

Sue Deeks, senior editor of acquired series at the BBC, said: "Taken is a compelling science fiction drama."

A young girl, Allie, played by eight-year-old Dakota Fanning, is at the centre of Taken.

She is joined by Matt Frewer, best-known for playing Max Headroom, and Heather Donahue, who starred in The Blair Witch Project.

The series is said to have cost $40m, one of the most expensive mini series in TV history, but producers hope overseas sales will recoup much of the cost.

Mr Frank said: "It delivers a mix of sci-fi special effects with strong characters and family drama."

Producer Steven Spielberg has a long association with science fiction.

He directed Close Encounters of the Third Kind, ET, a section of a Twilight Zone movie and two Jurassic Park movies.

As a producer he has worked on Back to the Future, Gremlins, Innerspace, Deep Impact and Men in Black.