Easy Wednesday Overnight Victory for Fox

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2016

Household Rating/Share
Fox: 7.4 rating/12 share, CBS: 4.7/ 8, ABC: 4.0/ 7, NBC: 2.7/ 4, CW: 1.4/ 2

Percent Change from the Year-Ago Evening:
CW: +100, Fox: +45, ABC: no change, CBS: -18, NBC: -50

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Ratings Breakdown:
Fox stood well above the Wednesday competition care of the second-to-last episode of “American Idol” (#1: 7.3 rating/12 share) and “Empire” (#1 for the night: 7.7/12), which slipped by seven percent from its 8.3/13 return one week earlier. Comparably, that translated into 12.45 million viewers and a 4.8 rating/15 share in adults 18-49, based on the Live + Same Day data. Fox would be wise next season to move “Empire” to Wednesday at 8 p.m. into the upcoming spinoff tentatively titled “Star.”

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In the distant No. 3 spot was CBS care of warhorse “Survivor” (#2: 5.4/ 9), which is looking at another approximate 2.0 rating in adults 18-49 (based on the Live + Same Day data), and two episodes of recent entry “Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders” (9 p.m.: #2: 4.7/ 7; 10 p.m.: #1, 4.3/ 7). While the overnights for “Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders” are respectable, the results are more in tune with a typical older-skewing Eye network crime solver.

In its third Wednesday 8 p.m. telecast, NBC medical drama “Heartbeat” sunk to a series-low 2.7/ 5 in the household overnights, which was 18 percent below the 3.3/ 5 last week. This is also a notable decline from former time period occupant “The Mysteries of Laura,” which is still in contention for a third season renewal.

Next on NBC was a repeat granddaddy “Law & Order: SVU” (#4: 2.7/ 4 at 9 p.m.), which by next season will be the third longest running scripted drama in the history of television (behind “Gunsmoke” and parent “Law & Order”). An encore telecast of “Chicago PD” capped off the night for the Peacock net with a third-place 2.7/ 5 at 10 p.m.

Elsewhere, ABC scored a typical Wednesday in the overnights care of sitcoms “The Middle” (#3: 4.8/ 8), “The Goldbergs” (#3: 4.2/ 7), “Modern Family” (#2: 5.4/ 8) and “black-ish” (#3: 3.8/ 5), and on-the-fence drama “Nashville” (#2: 3.0/ 5). And The CW populated the night with “Arrow” (#5: 1.7/ 3) and “Supernatural” (#5: 1.1/ 2), which were also at typical overnight levels. Amazingly, “Supernatural” will be heading into season 12 next season.

Source: Nielsen Media Research