It was apparently a great premiere for Katie Couric’s new syndicated daytime TV series, Katie. Couric’s new show registered the best debut ratings in 10 years, since the 2002 premiere of Dr. Phil.

Here’s the press release from Disney-ABC Domestic Television, which includes info about other new daytime shows; The Jeff Probst Show, Steve Harvey, and The Ricki Lake Show.

Ratings Report, September 10, 2012 (Live + Same Day U.S. Metered Market Ratings)

In its Premiere Telecast, “Katie” Leads the Freshman Pack by Huge Margins, Equaling the Highest New Daytime Talk Show Debut in the Last Decade

Recruiting Audience to its Time Period, “Katie” Builds on its Lead-in by 12%

Despite Facing the Highest Year-Ago Benchmark Comparisons Among The New Shows, “Katie” Boosts its Time Period by 22% Over The Year-Ago September 2011 Averages

“Katie” Earns First or Second Place in Each of the Top 15 U.S. Metered Markets, Including No. 1 Finishes in Both New York and Lost Angeles

“Katie” Debut Ratings

Nationally syndicated talk show, “Katie” debuted on Monday, September 10, 2012 with an impressive 2.8 Household rating, 8 share in the 56 U.S. Metered Markets to lead the pack of new daytime talk shows by huge margins. The premiere of “Katie” outdelivered the debut telecasts of “Steve Harvey” by 87% (1.5/4 on 9/4/12), “Jeff Probst” by 150% (1.0/3) and “Ricki Lake” by 250% (0.8/2). Also worth noting, “Katie” topped the sophomore season premiere of “Anderson” by 115% (1.3/4).

· “Katie” equaled the highest daytime talk show opener in the last decade, going back to “Dr. Phil” in September 2002. In fact, there have been a total of 25 daytime talk show debuts since “Dr. Phil” launched.

· Recruiting audience to the stations, “Katie” built on its lead-in by 12% (2.8/8 vs. 2.5/8).

· Despite facing a high bar set for its year-ago time-period comparisons, as it replaced established network programming in half of the U.S. markets, “Katie” improved its time period year to year by 22% (September 2011 average = 2.3/6). Of the new daytime talk shows, “Katie” had by far the highest year-ago benchmark comparisons to beat.

· The debut of “Katie” ranked first or second in its time period in each of the Top 15 U.S. markets, including No. 1 finishes in the Top 2 markets, New York and Los Angeles.

“Katie” is executive-produced by Katie Couric and Jeff Zucker and is distributed by Disney-ABC Domestic Television. Co-executive producers are Kathy Samuels and Michael Bass and the program is directed by Joseph Terry.

Source: WRAP Overnights, Weighted U.S. Metered Market Averages, Live + Same Day (09/10/12).