Final Ratings Update: An 8% drop brought FOX’s “Empire” to its lowest adults 18-49 rating since the fifth episode of season one.
It did not, however, change the more important reality: the FOX drama again dominated the Wednesday ratings race.
Per final Nielsen data, Wednesday’s “Empire” drew a 4.7 adults 18-49 rating with 12.223 million viewers. Down from the 5.1 and 13.101 million posted by the previous broadcast, the numbers nonetheless rank as the best — by comfortable margins — achieved by a Wednesday night television program.
“Modern Family,” its closest competitor in adults 18-49, drew a 2.7 (with 7.876 million total viewers). “Criminal Minds,” its closest competitor in viewership, reached 9.082 million (with a 1.7 in the demo).
— FOX led into “Empire” with “Rosewood” (1.4, 5.029 million this week versus a 1.8 with 5.751 million last week).
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Fast National Ratings Update: While it endured another week-to-week decline, FOX’s “Empire” still dominated the night.
The episode, which was the second season’s fourth, drew a 4.6 adults 18-49 rating with 12.168 million total viewers. Down from the 5.1 and 13.101 million posted by last week’s episode, the numbers comfortably rank as Wednesday’s best for among the major networks.
“Modern Family,” its closest competitor in adults 18-49, drew a 2.6 (with 7.815 million viewers). “Survivor,” its closest competitor in total audience, drew 9.061 million viewers (with a 2.1 demo rating).
Irrefutably dominant, this week’s performance does rank as the show’s weakest since the first half of its inaugural season. Not since episode 1×06 had the show drawn below a 5 in adults 18-49 (or fewer than 13.02 million in total viewership).
— FOX led into “Empire” with “Rosewood” (1.4, 5.013 million vs. last week’s 1.8 with 5.751 million).
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A slight week-over-week loss in the overnight household ratings did not prevent FOX’s “Empire” from again dominating its Wednesday night competition.
Wednesday’s episode, which was the fourth of the current second season, drew an 8.5 overnight household rating. Just shy of the 8.7 posted by last week’s episode, “Empire” easily ranked as the night’s top broadcast network show in the metric.
“Empire” will also rank as the #1 program in adults 18-49 and total viewership. Data for the two columns will be available by 11:15AM ET.
While “Empire” has fallen from its absolute peak, it remains a behemoth. It still comfortably ranks as the top non-sports show on network television, and it would need to fall dramatically farther to cede its status as a smash hit.
— FOX led into “Empire” with “Rosewood” (4.3 overnight household rating).