‘Empire’ on Fox Tops Wednesday, but CBS Still Leads in Household Overnights

WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 2016

Household Rating/Share
CBS: 5.0 rating/8 share, Fox: 4.9/ 8, ABC: 4.0/ 7, NBC: 3.5/ 6, CW: 1.3/ 2

Percent Change from the Year-Ago Evening:
Fox: – 9, ABC: -11, CBS: -12, CW: -13, NBC: -20

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Ratings Breakdown:
CBS inched past Fox by one-tenth of a household rating point for Wednesday overnight dominance. But the home of “Empire,” which topped the night with a 6.5 rating/11 share in the household overnights at 9 p.m., is still the network to beat in adults 18-49 (and all the key young adult demographics). Comparably, “Empire” increased from lead-in “Rosewood” (#3: 3.3/ 6 at 8 p.m.) by 97 percent.

Tops on CBS was ageless “Survivor” at a dominant 5.7/ 9 in the 8 p.m. hour, which should translate into about a 2-rating in adults 18-49. Next was the season-finale of veteran “Criminal Minds” (#3: 5.3/ 8 at 9 p.m.), which is still waiting word on an official 12th season renewal. And that led into a 4.2/ 7 at 10 p.m. (#2) for recently introduced spin-off “Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders,” which trailed competing “Chicago PD” on NBC (#1: 4.3/ 7) by one-tenth of a rating point. Third in the 10 p.m. hour was ABC’s “Nashville” at a 3.0/ 5, which was 19 percent below lead-in “black-ish” (#4: 3.7/ 6 at 9:30 p.m.) and is also waiting word in its fate. My prediction is a 13-episode order for one final season of “Nashville.”

Earlier in the evening on ABC were typical overnights for sitcoms “The Middle” (#2: 4.9/ 8), “The Goldbergs” (#2: 4.4/ 7) and “Modern Family” (#2t: 5.2/ 8) from 8-9:30 p.m.

On NBC, modest recent drama entry “Heartbeat” sunk to a series-low 2.8/ 5 at 8 p.m., which will certainly not bode well for a second season renewal. One year earlier, former time period occupant “The Mysteries of Laura” scored a 4.3/ 7 (and is expected to be renewed for a third season). Veteran “Law & Order: SVU” followed with a below-average 3.7/ 6 (#4) from 9-10 p.m.

The CW’s combination of “Arrow” (#5: 1.5/ 3) and “Supernatural” (#5: 1.2/ 2) were at typical overnight levels.

Source: Nielsen Media Research