In the beginning, Starbuck was a man.

The cocky, cigar-chomping lead of Battlestar Galactica was known for his fighter-pilot skills and having a thing for the ladies.

But when the Sci Fi Channel brought the show, originally a 1970s series, in 2004, Sci Fi exec Dave Howe and series creator Ronald Moore turned Starbuck into a woman.

As more shows compete for a dwindling TV audience, aggressive efforts like Howe’s to woo female viewers have become common, especially since many female viewers of original programming tend to be more affluent.

Lifetime’s Army Wives, about a group of women living on an Army post, is a perfect example, leading all cable series in female viewership.

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Steve Marsi is the Managing Editor of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Google+ or email him here.