Yes, ‘Empire’ hits yet another series high
Posts a 5.3 in 18-49s, best for any broadcast drama in five years
February 26, 2015
Fox has to be regretting that it ordered only 12 episodes of “Empire,” because the impressive drama is still growing eight episodes into its run.
It hit another series high last night, posting a 5.3 adults 18-49 rating, according to Nielsen overnights, up a tenth from last week.
“Empire” became the highest-rated regularly scheduled drama on broadcast since a September 2010 episode of “Grey’s Anatomy.”
It has increased 39 percent since its premiere, growing more than any other broadcast drama since “House” in 2004, though that show was helped immensely by being moved behind “American Idol” at midseason.
“Empire” also posted another series high in total viewers, 13.8 million, up from 13 million last week.
Elsewhere last night, ABC’s 9 p.m. comedies grew despite the stiff competition, with “Modern Family” up 10 percent, to a 3.4 in 18-49s, and “black-ish” up 5 percent, to a 2.3.
At 8:30, “The Goldbergs” also increased, rising 14 percent to a 2.5.
NBC’s “The Mysteries of Laura” shot up 27 percent from last week, to a 1.4. The network’s regular coverage was preempted for a basketball game in Portland, which may have impacted ratings.
And the season premiere of CBS’s “Survivor” saw mixed results. It was the lowest premiere in the franchise’s 30 seasons among adults 18-49, posting a 2.3. But with total viewers, it averaged 9.88 million and was the show’s biggest debut audience since September 2012.
At 9:30, the season premiere of “The Amazing Race” posted a 1.5 in the demo, up substantially from a 1.1 for last fall’s bow. But that aired on a Friday night, whereas this premiere got a special one-night reprieve, airing on Wednesday.
Fox was first for the night among 18-49s with a 4.0 average overnight rating and a 12 share. ABC was second at 2.2/7, CBS third at 1.9/6, NBC fourth at 1.5/4, Univision fifth at 1.1/3, CW sixth at 0.8/2, and Telemundo seventh at 0.6/2.
As a reminder, all ratings are based on live-plus-same-day DVR playback, which includes shows replayed before 3 a.m. the night before. Seven-day DVR data won’t be available for several weeks. Forty-nine percent of Nielsen households have DVRs.
At 8 p.m. Fox led with a 2.6 for “Idol,” while CBS and ABC tied for second at 2.3, CBS for “Survivor” and ABC for “The Middle” (2.0) and “Goldbergs” (2.5). NBC was fourth with a 1.4 for “Laura,” Univision fifth with a 1.1 for “Mi Corazon es Tuyo,” CW sixth with a 1.0 for “Arrow,” and Telemundo seventh with a 0.6 for “Los Miserables.”
Fox grew its lead at 9 p.m. with a 5.3 for “Empire,” while ABC took sole possession of second place with a 2.8 for “Family” (3.4) and “black-ish” (2.3). CBS was third with a 1.9 for the end of “Survivor” (2.4) and start of “Race” (1.5), NBC fourth with a 1.6 for “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” Univision fifth with a 1.1 for “Hasta el Fin del Mundo,” CW sixth with a 0.6 for “The 100,” and Telemundo seventh with a 0.5 for “Tierra de Reyes.”
At 10 p.m. CBS and NBC tied for first, each with a 1.5 rating, CBS for more “Race” and NBC for “Chicago P.D.” ABC was third with a 1.4 for ‘Nashville,” Univision fourth with a 1.0 for “Que te Perdone Dios” and Telemundo fifth with a 0.6 for “Dueños del Paraiso.”
Fox also led the night among households with a 7.0 average overnight rating and an 11 share. NBC was second at 4.9/8, CBS third at 4.6/8, ABC fourth at 4.2/7, Univision fifth at 1.5/2, CW sixth at 1.4/2, and Telemundo seventh at 0.8/1.
Tags: blackish, broadcast, empire, empire ratings, fox, modern family, overnight ratings, overnights, ratings empire, survivor, the amazing race, wednesday overnights
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