<P> The series has received generally favorable reviews from critics, while the second season received universal acclaim . The pilot episode, which aired in the USA on October 1, 2006, attracted more than a million viewers, giving Showtime its highest series ratings in nearly two years . Encouraged by its critical success and high ratings, CBS began broadcasting Dexter for free - to - air on February 17, 2008, thus making Dexter the first program in two decades to air on a national broadcast network after being shown on a premium cable channel . Eight seasons comprising twelve episodes each have been broadcast in the United States and abroad . All eight seasons have been released on DVD and on Blu - ray; box sets containing the first three seasons were released on August 18, 2009, on both DVD and Blu - ray . </P> <P> The show received multiple nominations for various awards, winning 19--including two Primetime Emmy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, seven Satellite Awards, five Saturn Awards, one Screen Actors Guild Award, and one TCA Award--and was twice selected by the American Film Institute as one of the ten best television programs of the year in 2006 and 2007 . Other nominations include PGA Awards, WGA Awards, and Peabody Awards . As of May 2012, the show has been nominated for over 125 awards . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> Season </Th> <Th_colspan="2"> Episodes </Th> <Th_colspan="2"> Originally aired </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> First aired </Th> <Th> Last aired </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 12 </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> October 1, 2006 (2006 - 10 - 01) </Td> <Td> December 17, 2006 (2006 - 12 - 17) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 12 </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> September 30, 2007 (2007 - 09 - 30) </Td> <Td> December 16, 2007 (2007 - 12 - 16) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 12 </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> September 28, 2008 (2008 - 09 - 28) </Td> <Td> December 14, 2008 (2008 - 12 - 14) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 12 </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> September 27, 2009 (2009 - 09 - 27) </Td> <Td> December 13, 2009 (2009 - 12 - 13) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> 5 </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 12 </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> September 26, 2010 (2010 - 09 - 26) </Td> <Td> December 12, 2010 (2010 - 12 - 12) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> 6 </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 12 </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> October 2, 2011 (2011 - 10 - 02) </Td> <Td> December 18, 2011 (2011 - 12 - 18) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> 7 </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 12 </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> September 30, 2012 (2012 - 09 - 30) </Td> <Td> December 16, 2012 (2012 - 12 - 16) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> 8 </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 12 </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> June 30, 2013 (2013 - 06 - 30) </Td> <Td> September 22, 2013 (2013 - 09 - 22) </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> Season </Th> <Th_colspan="2"> Episodes </Th> <Th_colspan="2"> Originally aired </Th> </Tr>

How many seasons of dexter will there be