Fox’s “Empire” is rising once again, as viewers find themselves just one week out now from the Season 2 finale.
The Lee Daniels drama added 400,000 total viewers Wednesday with its penultimate episode of the season. Though flat week over week in the key 18-49 demographic, Fox once again finished first among that all-important age range.
In total viewers, however, CBS still held onto first place.
ABC actually leapfrogged CBS to finish runner-up in the main demo, though, as the Les Moonves-led network didn’t air “Criminal Minds” last night. In the procedural’s place was a special for spinoff, “Beyond Borders.”
Fox was first in ratings with a 2.4 rating/8 share in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demographic and second in total viewers with an average of 7 million, according to preliminary numbers. “Rosewood” at 8 p.m. ET received a 1.1/4 and 4.3 million viewers. At 9, “Empire” scored a 3.6/12 and 9.7 million viewers.
ABC was second in ratings with a 1.5/5, but fourth in viewers with 5.6 million. “The Middle” at 8 p.m. ET had a 1.6/6 and 6.6 million viewers. At 8:30, “The Goldbergs” got a 1.8/7 and 6.1 million viewers. “Modern Family” at 9 earned a 2.1/7 and 7.1 million viewers. At 9:30, “Black-ish” posted a 1.6/5 and 5.4 million viewers. “Nashville” at 10 landed a 0.9/3 and 4 million viewers.
CBS was third in ratings with a 1.4/5, but first in viewers with 7.1 million. “Survivor: Kaoh Rong” at 8 p.m. ET put up a 2.1/8 and 9.4 million viewers. At 9, a special “Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders” had a 1.1/4 and 6 million viewers. At second hour at 10 — its usual time slot — got the same demo numbers but 100,000 fewer viewers.
NBC was fourth in ratings with a 1.2/4 and third in viewers with 5.7 million. “Heartbeat” at 8 p.m. ET received a 0.7/3 and 4.3 million viewers. At 9, “Law & Order: SVU” posted a 1.4/5 and 6 million viewers. “Chicago PD” at 10 had a 1.4/5 and 6.7 million viewers.
The CW was fifth in ratings with a 0.7/3 and in viewers with 2 million. “Arrow” at 8 p.m. ET got a 0.8/3 and 2.2 million viewers. At 9, “Supernatural” received a 0.7/2 and 1.8 million viewers.
Univision and Telemundo tied for sixth in ratings, both with a 0.6/2. Univision was sixth in total viewers with 1.6 million, Telemundo was seventh with 1.4 million.