Respectable Opening Overnights for ‘Shots Fired’ on Fox

What follows are the metered market (overnight) results in households by network and by half-hour for Wednesday, March 22, 2017:

Household Rating/Share
Fox: 4.5/ 8, CBS: 4.3/ 7, NBC: 3.5/ 6, ABC: 2.9/ 5, CW: 0.9/ 1

Percent Change from the Year-Ago Evening:
Fox: +73, NBC: -10, CBS: -27, ABC: -29, CW: -36

Ratings Breakdown:
Fox moved into the Wednesday overnight winner’s circle thanks to the return of “Empire,” which topped the evening with a 5.5 rating/7 share in households from 9-10 p.m. Comparably, that was 57 percent above the series-premiere of drama “Shots Fired,” which finished second in the 8 p.m. hour with a 3.5/ 6. Comparably, “Shots Fired” opened 30 percent above year-ago time period occupant “Rosewood” (2.7/ 5 on 3/23/16), and it was just eight percent below the season-finale of “Lethal Weapon” one week earlier (3.8/ 6). But since most new series do normally drop 10 to 20 percent in week two, consider this only a respectable opening for “Shots Fired.”

Tops at 8 p.m. was CBS’ “Survivor: Game Changers,” which scored a 5.1/ 9 in the household overnights and featured one of the most unusual tribal councils in the history of this addictive reality/competition.For a look, click here https://programmingins.wpengine.com/instant-replays/survivor-game-changers-ridiculous-tribal-council-history-tribal-councils/

Also in 8 p.m. hour was NBC’s “Blindspot” (#3: 2.9/ 5), which was equal to its most recent household rating despite taking a four week break, repeats of ABC sitcoms “The Goldbergs” (#3: 3.0/ 5) and “Speechless” (##: 2.8/ 5), and “Arrow” on The CW (#5: 1.1/ 2).

At 9 p.m., and following aforementioned “Empire,” was veteran “Criminal Minds” at a second-place 4.6/ 8 at 9 p.m. Next was another granddaddy “Law & Order: SVU” (#3: 3.4/ 6), which at this point could surpass parent “Law & Order” in longevity, followed by repeats of ABC’s “Modern Family” (#4: 2.7/ 4) and “black-ish” (#4: 2.2/ 4), and already renewed “The 100” on The CW (#5: 0.7/ 1).

NBC moved into first place at 10 p.m. care of “Chicago PD” at a 4.3/ 8, which built from lead-in “Law & Order” by 23 percent. Second was ABC’s “Designated Survivor” (3.8/ 7), which did not benefit from its three month hiatus, followed by sophomore “Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders” at a 3.1/ 5.

What follows are the household overnight results for March 22 by half-hour:

8:00 p.m.
ABC – “The Goldbergs” (R): 2.8/ 5 (#4)
CBS – “Survivor: Game Changers”: 5.1/ 9 (#1)
NBC – “Blindspot”: 3.0/ 5 (#3)
Fox – “Shots Fired” (series premiere): 3.4/ 6 (#2)
CW – “Arrow”: 1.1/ 2 (#5)

8:30 p.m.
ABC – “Speechless” (R): 2.3/ 4 (#4)
CBS – “Survivor: Game Changers”: 5.1/ 9 (#1)
NBC – “Blindspot”: 2.8/ 5 (#3)
Fox – “Shots Fired” (series premiere): 3.4/ 6 (#2)
CW – “Arrow”: 1.1/ 2 (#5)

9:00 p.m.
ABC – “Modern Family” (R): 2.7/ 4 (#4)
CBS – “Criminal Minds”: 4.6/ 8 (#2)
NBC – “Law & Order: SVU”: 3.4/ 6 (#3)
Fox – “Empire” (return): 5.4/ 9 (#1)
CW – “The 100” (R): 0.7/ 1 (#5)

9:30 p.m.
ABC – “black-ish” (R): 2.2/ 4 (#4)
CBS – “Criminal Minds”: 4.6/ 8 (#2)
NBC – “Law & Order: SVU”: 3.5/ 6 (#3)
Fox – “Empire” (return): 5.5/ 9 (#1)
CW – “The 100” (R): 0.6/ 1 (#5)

10:00 p.m.
ABC – “Designated Survivor”: 3.9/ 7 (#2)
CBS – “Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders”: 3.1/ 5 (#3)
NBC – “Chicago PD”: 4.3/ 7 (#1)

10:30 p.m.
ABC – “Designated Survivor”: 3.6/ 7 (#2)
CBS – “Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders”: 3.0/ 6 (#3)
NBC – “Chicago PD”: 4.3/ 8 (#1)

Source: Nielsen Media Research