“Empire” returned from a one week hiatus steady in the ratings, but ABC’s broadcast of the CMA Awards took the night in total viewers.
The country music awards show averaged 13.6 million viewers during its three hour telecast, along with a 3.8 rating in the advertiser coveted adults 18-49 demographic, according to Nielsen estimates. This marks the first time that any network has bested Fox on a Wednesday with an original episode of ‘Empire’ airing.
Yet the CMA Awards were down from last year, when they pulled in 16.2 million viewers and a 4.5 rating in the key demo. That is a 16 percent drop year over year.
“Empire” pulled in 11.6 million viewers, down slightly from the 12.2 million it nabbed during its last new episode. However, Fox’s hip-hop drama scored a 4.6 rating in the key demo, easily making it the highest-rated program of the night.
ABC won the night, airing only the CMA Awards from 8-11 p.m.
Fox came in second, averaging 8.3 million viewers and a 3.0 rating in the key demo. “Rosewood” aired at 8, netting 5.1 million viewers and a 1.5 rating, down from the 5.2 million it got during its last new episode on Oct. 21, but steady in the demo. “Empire” followed at 9.
CBS finished third with 7.6 million viewers and a 1.6 in the key demo. “Survivor” got 8.7 million viewers and a 2.0 rating at 8. “Criminal Minds” followed at 9 with 7.7 million viewers and a 1.4 rating. “Code Black” got 6.4 million viewers and a 1.2 rating at 10.
NBC was fourth with 6.7 million viewers and a 1.4 rating in the demo. At 8, “The Mysteries of Laura” pulled in 7 million viewers with a 1.2 rating. “Law & Order: SVU” got 6.5 million viewers and 1.5 rating at 9. “Chicago PD” got 6.5 million viewers and a 1.4 rating at 10.
The CW was fifth in total viewers with a 2.1 million average, tying with Univision in the key demo with a 0.8. “Arrow” got 2.6 million viewers and a 1.0 rating at 8. “Supernatural” clocked in with 1.6 million viewers and a 0.6 rating at 9.
Univision finished sixth in total viewers with 2 million but tied for fifth in the key demo with a 0.8.
Telemundo came in seventh place with 1.7 million viewers and a 0.6 rating.