Despite stiff competition from other networks, the special two-hour premiere of the eighth season of America's Next Top Model on The CW was the reality competition series highest-rated premiere ever in both several key demographics and overall viewers.

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The Top Model 8 premiere scored a 3.5/10 rating/share among the Adults 18-34 demographic; a 5.4/13 rating/share among Women 18-34; a 3.8/9 rating/share among Women 18-34; and 5.4 million total viewers -- making it the series' highest rated debut in those ratings categories.  It also tied for the series second best premiere among Adults 18-49 with a 2.5/6 rating/share, behind only the premiere of Top Model 7 in September 2006.

After a first hour that featured the thirty-two semifinalists being narrowed down to the show's thirteen finalists -- Top Model 8's second hour delivered double-digit gains over its first hour, improving 30% among Adults 18-34; 28% among Women 18-34; 22% among Adults 18-49; 27% among Women 18-49; and 18% among total viewers.

Airing from 8PM to 10PM, the Top Model 8 premiere led The CW to a second-place finish on Wednesday in the two-hour time block among Adults 18-34, Women 18-34 and Women 18-49 -- behind only Fox' special 90-minute broadcast of American Idol 6 from 8PM to 9:30PM and the second episode of Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? from 9:30PM to 10PM.  Fox averaged a 16.5/25 rating/share in households over the two-hour time period, while The CW averaged a household rating/share of 3.5/5.

However in head-to-head competition among Adults 18-49 during the 8PM to 10PM time slot -- The CW's Top Model 8 premiere outperformed NBC, which aired new episodes of Friday Night Lights and Deal or No Deal, as well as ABC, which aired new episodes of George Lopez, Knights of Prosperity, According to Jim and In Case of Emergency.

The Top Model 8 premiere also gave The CW its highest-rated night to date in the Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34 demographics.
About The Author: Christopher Rocchio
Christopher Rocchio is an entertainment reporter for Reality TV World and has covered the reality TV genre for several years.