THE season premiere of USA’s “The 4400” snared 5.3 million viewers Sunday – strong numbers, but off from last year’s series debut.

The sci-fi series notched 7.4 million viewers last July to set a new cable record.

Sunday’s season premiere, though, was still the season’s top-rated basic cable telecast among persons 18-49 and 25-54.

The show’s season premiere also topped all other original cable series premieres that night in all key demos.