THE CW GETS FIERCE AS TYRA BANKS AND "TOP MODEL" RETURNS IN STRONG FASHION

Two-Hour Debut of AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL Ranks Second on Wednesday with Young Women

The CW Beats NBC on Wednesday in Adults 18-49

"Top Model" Cycle 12 Premiere Improves Over Last Fall's Cycle 11 Debut

"Top Model" Builds Dramatically in Second Hour

March 5, 2009 (Burbank, CA) - Tyra and TOP MODEL returned in fine fashion last night, as the 12th cycle premiere of the hit reality series led The CW to a second place finish on Wednesday night among the target audience of women 18-34 (3.4/9) and females 12-34 (3.4/10), behind only Fox, according to preliminary live plus same day Nielsen ratings for Wednesday, March 4, 2009.

On the strength of TOP MODEL, The CW ranked third on the night among adults 18-34 (2.1/6), and beat NBC (which featured an original "Knight Rider") on Wednesday in adults 18-49 (1.8/5).

Last night's TOP MODEL Cycle 12 debut delivered ratings growth over the previous TOP MODEL premiere (Cycle 11 in Sept. 2008), improving +13% women 18-34, +5% in adults 18-34, +6% in adults 18-49, and +11% in total viewers (3.9mil).

TOP MODEL delivered dramatic increases at 9:00p.m., gaining in the second hour by 23% in women 18-34, +26% in adults 18-34, +29% in women 18-49, 33% in adults 18-49 and 36% in total viewers.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: What follows is the afternoon update with the final national Nielsen ratings.]

OH SO FIERCE! TYRA BANKS AND "TOP MODEL" RETURN TO GIVE THE CW ITS BEST WEDNESDAY SINCE DECEMBER 2007

Two-Hour TOP MODEL Debut Lifts The CW To Its Best Wednesday in More than A Year in Key Demos and Total Viewers

TOP MODEL Debut Places The CW Second on Wednesday with Young Women; Tops NBC on Wednesday in Adults 18-49

"Top Model" Cycle 12 Premiere Improves Over Last Fall's Cycle 11 Debut

"Top Model" Builds Dramatically in Second Hour

March 5, 2009 (Burbank, CA) - Tyra and TOP MODEL returned in strong fashion last night, as the 12th cycle premiere of the hit reality series lifted The CW to its best Wednesday night since December 2007 (nearly 15 months) in all key demos including women 18-34 (3.4/9), adults 18-34 (2.2/6), adults 18-49 (1.8/5), women 18-49 (2.8/7) and total viewers (3.9mil), according to Live Plus Same Day Nielsen ratings for Wed., March 4, 2009.

On the strength of TOP MODEL, The CW finished second on Wednesday night among the target audience of women 18-34 (3.4/9) and females 12-34 (3.4/10), behind only Fox. The CW also ranked third on the night among adults 18-34 (2.2/6) and women 18-49 (2.8/7), and beat NBC (which featured an original "Knight Rider") on Wednesday in adults 18-49 (1.8/5).

Last night's TOP MODEL Cycle 12 debut delivered ratings growth over the previous TOP MODEL premiere (Cycle 11 in Sept. 2008), improving +13% women 18-34, +10% in adults 18-34, +6% in adults 18-49, and +11% in total viewers (3.9mil).

TOP MODEL delivered dramatic increases at 9:00p.m., gaining in the second hour by +23% in women 18-34, +32% in adults 18-34, +29% in women 18-49, +25% in adults 18-49 and +29% in total viewers.