NIKITA TAKES AIM AT RECORD RATINGS FOR THE CW, MATCHING ALL-TIME HIGHS IN TIME PERIOD WITH WOMEN 18-34

NIKITA Posts Largest Audience in the Time Period in Over a Year and a Half

NIKITA Builds on VAMPIRE DIARIES in Total Audience; Improves Over Year Ago SUPERNATURAL Debut

VAMPIRE DIARIES Delivers Its Best Women 18-34 Ratings since Feb.; Holds Virtually All of Its Audience from Explosive Season Finale

The CW Scores Best Thursday in Nearly a Year with Women Demos; Ranks Second in Thursday Night in with Young Viewers

September 10, 2010 (Burbank, CA) -- The series premiere of NIKITA matched The CW's all-time best ratings in the Thursday 9-10:00p.m. time period among women 18-34 (1.9/5), according to preliminary Live Plus Same Day Nielsen ratings for Thursday, Sept. 9, 2010. NIKITA also delivered the largest audience (3.6million) in the time period in over 18 months, since 1/29/09.

NIKITA delivered year-to-year gains, improving on the SUPERNATURAL debut last season by 12% in women 18-34 and 6% in total viewers. NIKITA also built on its VAMPIRE DIARIES premiere lead-in by 9% in total viewers (3.6mil v. 3.3mil).

The second season opener of The CW's sophomore hit THE VAMPIRE DIARIES scored its best women 18-34 (2.8/9) performance since 2/4/10.

THE VAMPIRE DIARIES was virtually flat with its explosive season finale last May, in all key demographics. VAMPIRE DIARIES retained a large chunk of its massive series premiere last year, keeping about 87% of its year ago adults 18-34 (1.9/6) and 90% of its year ago women 18-34 (2.8/9) delivery.

Despite facing a gigantic season opener for the NFL, The CW scored its highest rated Thursday night with women 18-34 (2.3/7) and women 18-49 (2.0/6) in almost a year, since 11/12/09.

With debuts of THE VAMPIRE DIARIES and NIKITA, The CW ranked second on Thursday night among women 18-34 (2.3/5), adults 18-34 (1.6/5), females 12-34 (2.2/7) and persons 12-34 (1.5/5).

The CW will air encores of this week's premieres of NIKITA and HELLCATS tonight.