MyNetwork TV and WWE issued the following press release, touting the ratings success of last week's Smackdown premiere. The show drew a 1.9 rating, the highest rated show in the history of MyNetwork TV. By comparison, the final episode of SmackDown! on CW the week before did a 2.4 rating.

MyNetworkTV® Body Slams Previous Ratings Record

Network’s Largest Audience Ever Tunes in to the Premiere of “WWE® Friday Night SmackDown®”

MyNetworkTV Delivers the Most Male Viewers in History of the Network and Tops All Other Broadcast Networks’ Friday Performance in M18-34

NEW YORK – MyNetworkTV was the king of the ring on Friday night as the most viewers in the history of the network tuned-in for the two-hour all-star debut of “WWE Friday Night SmackDown” announced Greg Meidel , president of MyNetworkTV. The network premiere also delivered the most M18-34 (1.2) and M18-49 (1.3) viewers in MNT history, as “WWE Friday Night SmackDown” won the night in the coveted M18-34 demo, besting the closest broadcast network competitor by +33%.

3.2 million total viewers (P2+) (1.9 HH rtg) tuned-in to the MyNetworkTV telecast of “WWE Friday Night SmackDown.” The Superstar-studded premiere garnered MyNetworkTV a 217% ratings increase in HH and 233% in A18-49 over the same Friday last year.

In making the announcement, Meidel stated, “The all-star kick-off of ‘WWE Friday Night SmackDown,’ on its new home on MyNetworkTV was a knockout. We look forward to the edge of your seat storylines and Superstar matches that the WWE has in store this season.”

For the first time ever on broadcast television, it was a night of Champion vs. Champion including a “Triple Threat Match” between WWE Champion Triple H®, World Heavyweight Champion Chris Jericho® and ECW® Champion Matt Hardy™ with Triple H coming out on top.

Geof Rochester, Executive Vice President of Marketing for WWE, added, “Friday's ratings performance was just further evidence that WWE builds networks having been a ratings driver for Spike TV, CW and UPN in the past.”

“WWE Friday Night SmackDown” is presented on Friday nights at 8 PM (ET/PT) on MyNetworkTV.

* WWE DIVA Posing For Playboy Next March - Find Out WHO! [>]