All empires must fall, and Fox’s “Empire” just took some heavy artillery fire.
While the hip-hop-centric show still topped Wednesday’s 9 o’clock hour in the key 18-49 demographic, new series lows for the soap allowed CBS to best Fox across primetime — that’s the first time Les Moonves’ network has won in the key demo on a new “Empire” night. Additionally, Fox fell to fourth out of the Big 4 broadcast networks in terms of total viewers last night.
It might go without saying at this point that this particular “Empire” episode sunk to new series lows. Fox would point to cable competition from the NBA Playoffs as at least part of the problem. Fair enough.
CBS was first in ratings with a 1.4 rating/5 share in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demographic and in total viewers with an average of 6.8 million, according to preliminary numbers. “Survivor” at 8 p.m. earned a 1.8/7 and 8.1 million viewers. At 9, “Criminal Minds” posted a 1.4/5 and 7.2 million viewers. “Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders” at 10 had a 0.9/4 and 5 million viewers.
Fox was second in ratings with a 1.3/5, but fourth in viewers with 4.3 million. “Shots Fired” at 8 got a 0.8/3 and 3.1 million viewers. At 9, “Empire” put up a 1.8/7 and 5.6 million viewers.
ABC was third in ratings with a 1.2/5 and in viewers with 4.7 million. “The Goldbergs” at 8 received a 1.4/6 and 5.2 million viewers. At 8:30, “Speechless” had a 1.2/5 and 4.4 million viewers. “Modern Family” at 9 landed a 1.6/6 and 5.5 million viewers. At 9:30, “Black-ish” closed the sitcom block with a 1.2/4 and 4.2 million viewers. “Designated Survivor” at 10 finished prime off to a 0.9/4 and 4.6 million viewers.
NBC was fourth in ratings with a 1.0/4, but second in viewers with 5 million. “Blindspot” at 8 had a 0.9/4 and 4.2 million viewers. At 9, “Law & Order: SVU” got a 1.0/4 and 5 million viewers. “Chicago PD” at 10 received a 1.1/4 and 6 million viewers.
Univision was fifth in ratings with a 0.6/2 and in viewers with 1.7 million.
The CW was sixth in ratings with a 0.5/2 and in viewers with 1.3 million. “Arrow” at 8 had a 0.5/2 and 1.6 million viewers. At 9, “The 100” got a 0.4/1 and 1.1 million viewers.
Telemundo was seventh in ratings with a 0.3/1 and in viewers with 904,000.