CW trumpets record 'Vampire Diaries' audience

Paul Wesley of 'The Vampire Diaries'

Credit: The CW

As you may possibly have heard, America just can't get enough vampires. Certainly The CW is now experiencing what HBO and Summit already know thanks to Thursday (Sept. 10) night's premiere of "The Vampire Diaries."

Final Nielsen ratings are in for "The Vampire Diaries" and the adaptation of L.J. Smith's young adult bloodsucking soap opera is now officially The CW's most watched series premiere in history. Granted that talking about The CW's history isn't the same as discussing the history of CBS or Delaware, but it's still cause for happiness, especially for a network that started its week with a not-so-thrilling premiere for "Melrose Place."

"The Vampire Dairies" pulled in 4.91 million viewers, topping the 4.67 million viewers who tuned in for the premiere of The CW's "90210" last fall. 

So that's pretty fun, right? If you work for The CW, we mean.

In addition, "The Vampire Diaries" delivered The CW's best-ever ratings in the Thursday 8 p.m. time slot with women 18-34 (3.1/10), women 18-49 (2.8/8), teens (2.8/11) and female teens (3.5/14).  In adults 18-34 (2.2/8), adults 18-49 (2.1/6) and viewers, it was the best time period performance since Oct. 2007.

"The Vampire Diaries" was Thursday's top show on any network among female teens, which makes The CW very pleased, since the netlet cares more about female teens than just about anybody else.

Of additional pleasure to The CW is the fact that "The Vampire Diaries" grew 9 percent in total viewers in its second half-hour and grew by double digits in a number of important demos, especially among young females.

Noting, once again, that young females are what The CW cares most about, "The Vampire Diaires" delivered a 121 percent increase in women 18-34 over what "Smallville" did in its debut last year. And that, kids, is why "Smallville" is now airing on Fridays.

Thanks to the "Vampire Diaries" infusion, the "Supernatural" season premiere was up by 6 percent among women 18-34.

The CW had its best Thursday ever, in fact, among women 18-34 and women 18-49.

Stay tuned for next Thursday to see if "The Vampire Diaries" is able to sink its teeth into an even larger audience, or if the show's second week ratings suck.