Ratings: ‘Empire’ Dips, Still Easily Beats Competition

Hip-hop soap opera nearly doubles ratings of nearest competitor in key demographic

Fox/Chuck Hodes

“Empire” ratings finally took a slight dip on Wednesday, but the Fox hit was still easily the most watched show of the night.

The hip-hop soap opera nabbed a 5.4 rating/17 share in the advertiser coveted adults 18-49 demographic and 13.7 million viewers according to preliminary numbers. It attracted 16 million viewers during its premiere last week, which increased to a staggering 22.5 million when counting live+3 viewing and streaming.

Fox’s “Rosewood” was also down slightly from its premiere week, 1.9/7 and 6.2 million viewers, down from a 2.4/9 and 7.4 million.

The new CBS medical drama “Code Black” premiered to decent ratings, opening with a 1.6/5 and 8.5 million viewers. The new show also enjoyed solid lead ins from “Survivor” and the season premiere of “Criminal Minds,” which was the second most watched show  of the night behind “Empire.”

“Empire” was still good enough to carry Fox to a first place finish in every measure for the night. The network averaged a 3.7/12 and 9.9 million viewers. “Rosewood” aired at 8 p.m., followed by “Empire” at 9.

CBS was second with a 2.0/7 in the key demo and 9.3 million viewers. “Survivor” was solid with a 2.3/8 and 9.3 million viewers at 8 p.m. “Criminal Minds” scored a 2/6 and 9.9 million viewers at 9, marking its lowest season premiere in live+same day ratings to date. “Code Black” aired at 10.

ABC was third in the key demo with a 1.9/6 but fourth in total viewers with 6.6 million. “The Middle” aired at 8 p.m. to a 2.2/8 and 7.9 million viewers. “The Goldbergs” followed a 8:30 with a 2.3/8 and 7.4 million viewers. “Modern Family” drew a 2.9/9 and 8.6 million viewers at 9pm. “Black-ish” got a 1.8/6 and 6 million viewers at 9:30, followed by “Nashville” at 10, which got a 1.2/4 and 4.8 million viewers.

NBC was fourth in the key demo with a 1.5/5 but third in total viewers with 6.8 million. “Mysteries of Laura” got a 1.2/4 and 7 million viewers at 8 p.m. “Law & Order: SVU” clocked in at 1.7/5 and 6.9 million viewers at 9, followed by the season premiere of “Chicago P.D.” at 10, which got 1.7/6 and 6.7 million viewers.

Univision was fifth with a 0.8/3 and 2 million viewers. Telemundo was sixth with a 0.6/2 and 1.6 million viewers.

The CW finished in seventh place with a 0.4/1 and 1.2 million viewers, airing only the iHeart Radio Music Festival.


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