Ratings: ‘American Idol’ Leads Fox to Win But Hits 5th Consecutive Wednesday Low

"Modern Family" tops in ratings but falls to season low

"Modern Family" took the night's top ratings, while "American Idol" dropped 11 percent to a new low for Wednesday nights, but still delivered an overall win for Fox, according to preliminary numbers.

"Idol," which filled Fox's primetime slate, posted a 3.1 rating/9 share in the advertiser-sought 18-49 demographic, marking the fifth consecutive week that the show has dropped to a Wednesday low. Even so, with 12 million total viewers, "Idol" was the most-watched show, leading the network to an overall win in ratings and total viewership.

ABC came in a distant second in ratings and  third in total viewers with a 1.9/6 and 6.2 million, as three of its shows hit season lows but one, "Suburgatory," improved.

"The Middle" at 8 p.m. returned after four weeks to a 14 percent drop, hitting a season low of 1.8/6 and taking 6.8 million total viewers. The season finale of "The Neighbors" at 8:30 ticked up 7 percent to a 1.5/5 and grabbed 5.5 million total viewers. "Modern Family" at 9 dropped off 20 percent from its last original four weeks ago for a season low of 3.2/9 — which was still the night's best performance in the demo — and had 9 million total viewers, while "Suburgatory" at 9:30 jumped 27 percent from last week, taking a 1.9/5 with 5.4 million total viewers. "Nashville" at 10 dipped 6 percent from its last original four weeks ago, hitting a season and series low of 1.5/4 and taking 5.1 million total viewers.

CBS drew third in ratings and second in total viewers with a 1.7/5 and 7.3 million. "Survivor" at 8 dropped 8 percent to tie a series low of 2.4/7 and drew 9.2 million total viewers. Otherwise the network aired repeats.

NBC shared fourth place in ratings with Univision and took fourth in total viewers outright with a 1.5/4 and 5.5 million. "Whitney" at 8 ran even with last week to tie a series low of 1.0/3 and took 3.1 million total viewers, while the season finale of "Whitney" at 8:30 grew 10 percent from last week's 8 p.m. airing for a 1.1/3 and drew 3 million total viewers. "Law & Order: SVU" at 9 had a 1.7/5 with 6.5 million total viewers, while "Chicago Fire" the following hour posted a 1.8/5 and took 6.9 million total viewers.

For the record: An earlier version of this story erroneously identified "American Idol" as the night's top-rated program. In fact, "Modern Family" took the night's top ratings, but "Idol" was most-watched and Fox was the highest-rated network overall.

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