AMERICAN HORROR STORY: COVEN Premiere Draws 7.78 Million Viewers

The premiere episode of FX's critically-acclaimed miniseries American Horror Story: Coven (10/9/13, 10:00-11:12 PM) was the most-watched telecast ever of the American Horror Story franchise, recording 5.54 million Total Viewers, 3.87 million Adults 18-49 (3.0 rating) and 2.34 million Adults 18-34 (3.5 rating), which ranked #1 for the night in Adults 18-34 against all broadcast competition in Primetime (8:00-11:00PM), and it ranked #2 in Adults 18-49 behind Modern Family. (Cable program rankers for Wednesday will be available later this afternoon.)

On a Live+Same Day basis, last night's debut episode of Coven, "Bitchcraft," posted all-time AHS franchise highs across the board for the American Horror Story franchise and marked gains of +44% in Total Viewers (5.54 million vs. 3.85 million) and +39% in Adults 18-49 (3.87 million vs. 2.78 million) compared with the debut of American Horror Story: Asylum, and an astounding +74% in Total Viewers (5.54 million vs. 3.18 million) and +90% in Adults 18-49 (3.87 million vs. 2.04 million) compared with the premiere of American Horror Story: Murder House. Coven also scored franchise highs in Women 18-49 (2.36 million) and Women 18-34 (1.47 million).

The premiere telecast and encore runs (11:12 PM and 1:25 AM) of Coven combined to deliver 7.78 million Total Viewers and 5.36 Million Adults 18-49.

Furthermore, if the time-shifted viewing for American Horror Story: Coven is in line with that of its predecessor American Horror Story: Asylum, last night's debut of Coven could rank as the most-watched telecast in FX history, surpassing the sixth season premiere episode of Sons of Anarchy (9/10/13). The average Live+Same Day to Live+7 percentage increase for American Horror Story: Asylum was +67% in Total Viewers and +75% in Adults 18-49.

In Chapter 2 of Coven - "Boy Parts" (Airs Wednesday, October 16, 10:00 pm e/p) - Fiona helps Zoe and Madison deal with a horrible tragedy. Delphine LaLaurie struggles to adjust to modern life. Cordelia faces a dark decision about her family. (Written by Tim Minear; Directed by Michael Rymer)

American Horror Story: Coven tells the secret history of witches and witchcraft in America. Over 300 years have passed since the turbulent days of the Salem witch trials and those who managed to escape are now facing extinction. Mysterious attacks have been escalating against their kind and young girls are Being sent away to a special school in New Orleans to learn how to protect themselves. Wrapped up in the turmoil is new arrival, Zoe (Taissa Farmiga), who is harboring a terrifying secret of her own. Alarmed by the recent aggression, Fiona (Jessica Lange), the long-absent Supreme, sweeps back into town, determined to protect the Coven and hell-bent on decimating anyone who gets in her way. American Coven features an extraordinary cast including Jessica Lange, Kathy Bates, Angela Bassett, Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Taissa Farmiga, Emma Roberts, Gabourey Sidibe, Frances Conroy, Lily Rabe, Denis O'Hare, Patti LuPone, and Danny Huston. Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, Dante Di Loreto, Tim Minear, James Wong, Jennifer Salt, and Brad Buecker are Executive Producers of American Horror Story: Coven. It is produced by Twentieth Century FOX Television.

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