Update: Final ratings data is available, and it reveals that the season finale of FOX’s “Empire” was even bigger than suggested by the late-morning fast nationals.
Hour one of the finale drew a then-series high 6.1 adults 18-49 rating with 15.8 million viewers.
Hour two, which fell during the show’s usual 9-10PM slot, followed by posting a new series high 6.9 adults 18-49 rating with 17.6 million viewers.
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Since premiering on January 7, FOX’s “Empire” has enjoyed a viewership uptick with each passing episode. Only two of the episodes failed to post gains in the adults 18-49 demographic.
Given its unprecedented and unwavering viewership rise across each of the preceding episodes, the television industry had every reason to believe Wednesday’s finale would establish new series high marks.
The finale delivered on that expectation.
Per fast national data, the two-hour “Empire” finale averaged a dominant 6.4 adults 18-49 rating with 16.52 million viewers. The 8PM episode drew a 6.0 with 15.58 million viewers, while the 9PM portion was good for a 6.8 with 17.47 million viewers.
Whether judged on the whole or in terms of its individual hours, the “Empire” finale was by far the series’ most successful broadcast to date.
Last week’s episode, which previously held that distinction, drew a 5.8 rating with 14.90 million viewers.
“Empire” thus closed its first season without once failing to post a week-over-week gain in total viewership.