Game 1 of the World Series handed Fox a ratings win Wednesday night, while NBC's new Dick Wolf firefighter drama "Chicago Fire" improved on its lukewarm ratings, according to preliminary numbers.
While the nature of live sports makes Fox's numbers subject to revision, the network currently holds first place in the advertiser-sought 18-49 demographic with a 3.3 rating/9 share and in total viewers with 11.8 million total viewers. The network ran the San Francisco-Detroit game throughout its primetime roster.
CBS tied with ABC for second place in the demo with a 2.7/7 and took second place in total viewers outright with 10.5 million. "Survivor" at 8 p.m. ran even with last week for a 2.8/8 and drew 10.4 million total viewers, while "Criminal Minds" the following hour posted a 3.0/8 and took 11.4 million total viewers. "CSI" at 10 grabbed a 2.4/6 and 10 million total viewers.
ABC took third in total viewers with 8 million. "The Middle" at 8 drew even with last week for a 2.5/8 and 8.6 million total viewers, while the freshman comedy "The Neighbors" at 8:30 inched up to a 2.0/6 and had 6.9 million total viewers. "Modern Family" at 9 was also up slightly, taking a 4.9/13. It was the night's highest-rated program of the night, and most-watched with 12.4 million total viewers. "Suburgatory" at 9:30 declined modestly from last week, drawing a 2.7/7 and 7.4 million total viewers, while the new drama "Nashville" at 10 remained steady with last week, taking a 2.0/6 with 6.6 million total viewers.
NBC came in fourth in ratings and total viewers with a 1.6/4 and 5.6 million. Most of its primetime slate improved over last week, with "Chicago Fire" enjoying the biggest gain. "Animal Practice," which the network recently decided to pull, posted a 1.2/4 and 3.8 million total viewers, while "Guys With Kids" slipped slightly to a 1.3/4 and drew 3.8 million total viewers. "Law & Order" at 9 climbed 13 percent to a 1.8/5 and had 6.7 million total viewers, while "Chicago Fire" jumped 20 percent in the demo for a 1.8/5 and drew 6.3 million total viewers.
Meanwhile, at the CW, the new superhero drama "Arrow," which premiered to a three-year high for the network on Oct. 11 with a 1.3/4, continued to perform strongly at 8 p.m., taking a 1.1/3 in the demo and receiving 3.5 million total viewers.
