MUMBAI: MTV's third quarter 2010 ratings spiked a record 30% over last year among the network's targeted P12-34 audience, marking MTV's highest rated quarter in three years, and the network's third consecutive quarter of year-over-year growth  For 2010 year to date, ratings are up 14% over the prior year period  In the third quarter, MTV delivered the #1 series across all of television, the top two original cable series, and eight of the top 10 cable telecasts (P12-34)  MTV's growth extended to the online space as well, where the MTV Music Group was the #1 online music destination based on 165% year-over-year growth  MTV is a division of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B), which closes its fiscal year on September 30 

The ratings surge was driven by broad-based gains across all dayparts on the strength of returning series and franchises as well as new shows  Pop culture phenomenon "Jersey Shore" led the quarter as the #1 series across cable and broadcast, giving MTV its highest rated series telecast in the network's history  Breakout hit "Teen Mom" was cable's #2 original series, and the "2010 MTV Video Music Awards" is the #1 cable telecast of the year  Additionally, the VMAs drew MTV's largest total audience for any show in seven years, averaging 11.4 million total viewers   

The third quarter also boasted MTV's biggest new series launch ever with the "World of Jenks" preview averaging nearly five million total viewers  New docu-series "If You Really Knew Me" debuted with close to two million total viewers and scripted comedy series "The Hard Times of RJ Berger" grew its audience by 18% over the course of its run, culminating with a season high rating of 1.3 (P12-34). Established favorites also delivered impressive growth for the network  Ratings for "The Real World: New Orleans" were up 27% compared to the prior season and the "The Hills" was a top-10 original cable series of the quarter with the series finale up 75% over last season's.

Online, the MTV Music Group grew to more than 53 million unique visitors in August alone, making it the most visited online music destination according to the U.S. comScore Media Metrix numbers for August 2010  In the last year, MTV Music Group experienced more than a 165% year-over-year uptick in web traffic due to strong organic growth, strategic partnerships and the success of several successful social media initiatives.

MTV's sibling network MTV2, which has the highest concentration of young males on TV today, had a record-breaking third quarter, with its best P12-34 and M12-34 deliveries ever  2010 to date is MTV2's best year ever, with 6% growth from 2009.