On a night that was marked primarily by repeats from the competition, NBC's Wednesday primetime lineup returned with originals, with "Chicago Fire" heating up for the number-one spot and rising to a series high, according to preliminary numbers.
NBC grabbed first place in the advertiser-sought 18-49 demographic with a 2.1 rating/6 share and in total viewers with 6.9 million. The only network besides Fox to air original programming throughout primetime, the Peacock enjoyed ratings boosts for all of its programs.
"Whitney" at 8 p.m. jumped 29 percent from its last original airing three weeks ago, posting a 1.8/5 and drawing 5 million total viewers. "Guys With Kids" at 8:30 grew 21 percent for a 1.7/5 and took 4.3 million total viewers. "Law & Order: SVU" at 9 jumped 31 percent from its last original a month ago for a 2.1/5 and grabbed 7.7 million total viewers.
The night's big winner was the freshman drama "Chicago Fire," which spiked 26 percent from its last original two weeks ago, posting a series high of 2.4/6 — the night's highest ratings performance for an individual program — and drawing the night's largest audience with 8.4 million total viewers.
Univision took second place in ratings and fourth in total viewers with a 1.6/4 and 4 million.
CBS, which aired repeats, shared third place in ratings with ABC with a 1.5/4 and took second place in total viewers with 6.4 million total viewers.
ABC, which came in third in total viewers with 5 million, aired mostly reruns, with the exception of the clip show "Nashville: The Whole Story" at 10, which drew a 1.1/3 and had 3.9 million total viewers.
Fox, taking fifth place in ratings and total viewers with a 1.1/3 and 3 million, aired consecutive episodes of the Howie Mandel reality series "Mobbed," which drew a 1.0/3 and 3.2 million total viewers and a 1.1/3 with 2.7 million total viewers, respectively.
