Battlestar Galactica executive producer Jane Espenson is also working on prequel Caprica

Science fiction drama Battlestar Galactica has been named programme of the year by the Television Critics Association at a Los Angeles ceremony.

A revamp of a cult 1970s TV show, the programme has now ended after four series and will be replaced by prequel show Caprica on US cable network Syfy.

HBO led the networks with three awards, including outstanding new show for vampire drama True Blood.

Mad Men won the prize for outstanding drama for the second year running.

The drama, set in a 1960s New York advertising agency, won three awards last year - the first time cable channel AMC had been honoured by the Television Critics Association.

Former Golden Girls star Betty White won the career achievement prize

This year, Bryan Cranston won the award for outstanding actor in a drama for AMC's Breaking Bad.

HBO also won the outstanding movie, mini-series or special prize for TV film Grey Gardens - starring Drew Barrymore - as well as the news and information award for documentary The Alzheimer's Project.

The Big Bang Theory won the comedy prize, while Jim Parsons won the comedy actor award for his role as the neurotic geek Sheldon Cooper in the CBS sitcom.

The heritage award went to NBC hospital drama ER, which bowed out with its final episode earlier this year after 15 seasons.

And the career achievement prize went to Betty White, 87, star of sitcom The Golden Girls.