Television's #2-Ranked Program in Primetime Wednesday (10/17) Among Adults 18-34, Women 18-34 and Men 18-34 Behind ABC's Modern Family And TV's #1-Ranked Program in Those Demos in the 10 PM Time Period

Cable's #1 Show on Wednesday Among Adult 18-49, Women 18-49, Adults 18-34, Women 18-34, and Men 18-34

Miniseries Debut Scares Up a Combined 5.79 Million Total Viewers, 4.17 Million Adults 18-49 and 2.7 Million Adults 18-34

Asylum Premiere Was the Talk of Social Media Wednesday

October 18, 2012 - The new FX miniseries American Horror Story: Asylum got off to an insane start as its premiere telecast (10/17/12, 10-11:05 PM) was the #2 two-ranked primetime program on television Wednesday in Adults 18-34, Women 18-34 and Men 18-34 behind ABC's Modern Family, and it was TV's #1-ranked program in the 10 PM time-period in those demos. In addition, it ranked as cable's top program on Wednesday in Adults 18-49 and Women 18-49.

For the night, Chapter 1 of American Horror Story: Asylum, "Welcome to Briarcliff," drew a combined multi-telecast audience of 5.79 million Total Viewers, 4.17 million Adults 18-49 and 2.7 million Adults 18-34 (premiere at 10, and encore telecasts at 11:05 PM and 1 AM). Those totals marked respective gains of +15%, +29% and +50% over the multi telecast audience for the 2011 premiere of its predecessor American Horror Story (10/5/11).

"We congratulate Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, Dante Di Loreto and Tim Minear, the producers, writers, crew, and especially our award-winning cast," said FX Networks President and General Manager John Landgraf. "Ryan's decision to make this show a new miniseries every year was a stroke of genius and the audience totally embraced the concept. For FX to have Sons of Anarchy and American Horror Story: Asylum on back-to-back nights as two of TV's top-rated shows is a wonderful achievement and a true credit to our showrunners."

On a first-run basis, AHS: Asylum posted 2.78 million Adults 18-49 (2.20 rating), 1.78 million Adults 18-34 (2.63 rating), 1.62 million Women 18-49 (2.54 rating), 1.01 million Women 18-34 (2.97), 771,000 Men 18-34 (2.28 rating) and 3.85 million Total Viewers. The debut of American Horror Story: Asylum outpaced any single telecast of American Horror Story (10/5/11), and topped that miniseries' debut with increases of +37% in Adults 18-49; +50% in Adults 18-34; +49% in Women 18-49; +54% in Women 18-34; +44% in Men 18-34, and +21% in Total Viewers.

American Horror Story: Asylum was the #1 program last night at 10 PM in Adults 18-34 by a landslide, beating Nashville (ABC) by +56% (1.78 million vs. 1.14 million); CSI (CBS) by +111% (1.78 million vs. 844,000); and Chicago Fire (NBC) by +133% (1.78 million vs. 763,000). It also was the runaway #1 program at 10 PM vs. broadcast in delivery of Women 18-34 outpacing ABC, CBS and NBC in that demo by +26%, +106%, and +112% respectively.

It ranked as television's #2 program Wednesday at 10 PM in delivery of Adults 18-49 on Wednesday at 10 PM behind CSI (2.35 rating), and ahead of Nashville (ABC) by +8%, and Chicago Fire (NBC) by +45%.

FX's lead-in movie to American Horror Story: Asylum, the broadcast premiere of Twilight: New Moon, turned in an outstanding performance, delivering 1.55 million Adults 18-49.

American Horror Story: Asylum also was a huge topic on social media last night according to Bluefin Labs Social Media (see Social Television chart below). According to Bluefin's measurement of comments about primetime TV programs on Wednesday, AHS: Asylum dominated cable and was #2 in all of television for the night with almost half a million Total Comments. It was by far the #1 telecast in cable for the night and was the #1 scripted program in all of television. Its delivery of comments was 14x the amount delivered by last year's American Horror Story premiere (437k vs. 31k).

Set in 1964, American Horror Story: Asylum takes us into a Church-run haven for the criminally insane, ruled with an iron fist by Sister Jude (Jessica Lange), a nun with a troubled past. Inside this locked down facility, danger lurks around every corner. From Nazis and serial killers, to mutants and aliens, no one is safe inside these walls. Starring Jessica Lange as "Sister Jude," Sarah Paulson as "Lana Winters," James Cromwell as "Dr. Arthur Arden," Evan Peters as "Kit Walker," Lily Rabe as "Sister Mary Eunice," Lizzie Brocheré as "Grace," Zachary Quinto as "Dr. Oliver Thredson," and Joseph Fiennes as "Monsignor Timothy Howard." Guest stars for the miniseries will include Frances Conroy, Chloë Sevigny, Adam Levine, Jenna Dewan-Tatum, Mark Consuelos, and Ian McShane. American Horror Story: Asylum is produced by 20th Century Fox Television.

About FX

FX is the flagship general entertainment basic cable network from Fox. Launched in June of 1994, FX is carried in more than 98 million homes. The diverse schedule features a growing roster of critically acclaimed and award-winning hit dramas series Sons of Anarchy and Justified; the miniseries American Horror Story: Asylum; the acclaimed hit comedy series It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The League, Louie, Archer, Wilfred, BrandX with Russell Brand, and Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell. The network's library of acquired box-office hit movies is unmatched by any ad-supported television network. FX's other offerings include the acquired hit series Two and a Half Men and How I Met Your Mother, and live sports with UFC and NCAA football.

(SOURCE: The Nielsen Company, NHI)

Insane Start for "American Horror Story: Asylum" - Fast Nationals

Please see the fast nationals for the premiere telecast of American Horror Story: Asylum. These numbers are subject to change. Final cable numbers will post at approximately 4:30 PM ET. We will issue a formal press release this afternoon when we receive final national ratings.

(The Nielsen Company, NHI, Fast Nationals, subject to change - Wednesday, October 5, 2012 - unless otherwise noted)

American Horror Story: Asylum got off to an insane start as its premiere telecast (10/17/12) posted 2.78 million Adults 18-49 (2.20 rating), 1.78 million Adults 18-34 (2.63 rating), 1.62 million Women 18-49 (2.54 rating), 1.01 million Women 18-34 (2.97), 771,000 Men 18-34 (2.28 rating) and 3.85 million Total Viewers.

Chapter 1 of American Horror Story: Asylum, "Welcome to Briarcliff," was the #1 program last night - vs. broadcast - at 10 PM in Adults 18-34 by a landslide, beating Nashville (ABC) by +56% (1.78 million vs. 1.14 million); CSI (CBS) by +93% (1.78 vs. 922,000); and Chicago Fire (NBC) by +128% (1.78 million vs. 780,000). It also was the runaway #1 program at 10 PM vs. broadcast in delivery of Women 18-34 outpacing ABC, CBS and NBC in that demo by +28%, +109%, and +110% respectively.

It ranked as the #2 program in delivery of Adults 18-49 on Wednesday at 10 PM behind CSI (2.39 rating), and ahead of Nashville (ABC) by +8%, and Chicago Fire (NBC) by +42%.

***American Horror Story: Asylum will likely be cable's top program on Wednesday in Adults 18-49, Adults18-34, and the top program on television Wednesday at 10 PM in A18-34 and W18-34 (cable competitive will be available approximately 4:30 PM ET).

American Horror Story: Asylum, outpaced any single telecast of its predecessor, American Horror Story (10/5/11), and topped that miniseries' debut with increases of +37% in Adults 18-49; +50% in Adults 18-34; +49% in Women 18-49; +54% in Women 18-34; +44% in Men 18-34, and +21% in Total Viewers.

With Sons of Anarchy consistently ranking as TV's #1 show Tuesdays at 10P in Adults 18-49 and now American Horror Story: Asylum as a force Wednesdays at 10P, FX has one of the most powerful one-two punches of the 2012 fall season.

***FX's lead-in movie to American Horror Story: Asylum, the broadcast premiere of Twilight: New Moon, turned in an outstanding performance delivering 1.55 million Adults 18-49.

***American Horror Story: Asylum also was a huge topic on social media last night according to Bluefin Labs Social Media (see Social Television chart below). According to Bluefin's measurement of comments about primetime TV programs on Wednesday, AHS: Asylum dominated cable and was #2 in all of television for the night with almost half a million Total Comments. It was by far the #1 telecast in cable for the night and was the #1 scripted program in all of television. It ranked #5 among all drama telecasts within the last year (Sept '11 thru Oct '12 - Pretty Little Liars (3x), and Walking Dead). Its delivery of comments was 14x the amount delivered by last year's American Horror Story premiere (437k vs. 31k).

American Horror Story: Asylum - Premiere (10/17/12) - Social Media

Rankings based on Total Comments. Earned impressions: the total number of potential impressions of the commentary on a show or telecast. (i.e. the sum of the follower of each comment). Bluefin measures Social Media Activity on Facebook and Twitter, providing Total Comments, Unique Users, Gender Split, Sentiment and Share of SM users.

Data based on Prime time daypart.