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The CW made a big debut in the ratings on its launch night, Wednesday, with America's Next Top Model averaging 5.3m viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research data.
The two-hour season and network premiere episode of the Tyra Banks creation had a 2.6 rating and 7 share from 8pm to 10pm (1 ratings point represents 1% of the total number of TV households in America; share is the percentage of in-use TVs tuned into a particular channel or programme). Although this placed The CW fourth behind CBS, ABC and NBC in terms of total viewers, it dominated the competition in its target 18-39 demographic.
This was particularly evident among women 18-34. In 8 of America's top 10 TV markets, The CW was the top-rated network among that demo (in New York, it beat all network competition combined from 8pm to 10pm), and in 7 of the top 10, it was the number one network in adults 18-34.
The network was particularly pleased that "viewers clearly sought out The CW and Top Model," because viewers in many markets had to tune to a different local station than had aired the show when it was on CW precedessor UPN.
Overall, CBS won the night, with audiences building from Jericho at 8pm (11.4m viewers) through Criminal Minds at 9pm (15.6m), to CSI: NY at 10pm with 16m viewers.
ABC came second with Dancing in the Stars (14.9m viewers) and a repeat of Grey's Anatomy's season finale (10.6m viewers).
NBC followed in third place with The Biggest Loser (7.2m viewers between 8pm and 10pm) and disappointing ratings for the premiere of Kidnapped (7.5m viewers).
Fox bottomed out the top five ratings with Bones (7.5m viewers) and Justice (5.6m viewers).
