Deadline reports that the season six premiere of Showtime’s The Chi has received a 65% increase in streaming views after the release of the first eight episodes of the season on Paramount+ on August 4. The premiere of the sixth season garnered over 1.8 million viewers, according to Paramount Global, reports Deadline.

Season six consists of 16 episodes and will be split into two eight-episode parts. The release date of the second half of the season is currently unknown.

“The Chi’s record-breaking performance validates our decision to integrate our streaming services with the new Paramount+ with Showtime,” said President/CEO, SHOWTIME/MTV Entertainment Studios & Paramount Media Networks, Chris McCarthy (Quiet Campus, The T Word), according to Deadline. “Exceptionally created by Lena Waithe, The Chi embodies the best of Showtime with rich characters and compelling, layered storytelling that keeps viewers coming back for more.”

“As the first new season of a Showtime scripted series to premiere on Paramount+, The Chi broke out with its largest premiere audience ever, showcasing the power of our new Paramount+ with Showtime plan,” said Domenic DiMeglio, EVP and chief marketing officer, Paramount Streaming, also according to Deadline.  “It gives all of us great pleasure to be able to continue to engage the loyal audience that this incredible show has built over the years while at the same time being able to introduce it to new audiences as part of Paramount+.”

The Chi stars Jasmine Davis (Never Have I Ever, The Downside of Bliss) as Imani, Tiffany Boone (Hunters, Detention) as Jerrika, Birgundi Baker (30 Miles from Nowhere, The Last Shift) as Kiesha, Yolonda Ross (Whitney, Bull) as Jada, La La Anthony (Power, The Perfect Find) as Dom, Kandi Burruss (The Masked Singer, Celebrity Big Brother) as Roselyn, and Miriam A. Hyman (The Sun is Also a Star, Brittany Runs a Marathon) as Dre.

The cast also includes Tabitha Brown (Outrighteous, Tab Time) as Octavia, Tai Davis (Blueprint, Consumed) as Tracy, Genesis Denise Hale (Candyman, Easy) as Maisha, Crystal Dickinson (Collateral Beauty, I Origins) as Alice, Sonja Sohn (Body of Proof, The Wire) as Laverne, Mariah Gordon (Chicago Fire, Range Runners) as Andrea, Tyla Abercrumbie (Shrink, Unexpected) as Nina, and LaDonna Tittle (Ali, The Relic) as Ethel.