Primetime television has never seen a ratings growth story like Fox’s “Empire,” which continued to defy the odds on Wednesday night by drawing a series-high audience for a sixth consecutive week.
According to Nielsen estimates, “Empire” averaged a 5.1 rating/15 share in adults 18-49 and 12.9 million viewers overall in the 9 o’clock half-hour — up 6% (0.3) in the demo and gaining nearly 1 million total viewers (from 11.96 million) vs. last week. It built by a best-yet 89% in 18-49 over its “American Idol” lead-in (2.7/9 in 18-49, 10.5 million viewers overall), with the music competition about on par with last week and sweeping its hour.
Since bowing with 9.9 million viewers on Jan. 7, “Empire” has grown with each week in total viewers: 10.32 million, 11.07 million, 11.35 million, 11.47 million, 11.96 million and now roughly 12.9 million. In 18-49, it has set highs with five of its six episodes following its premiere, which did a 3.8 rating/11 share: 4.0/12, 4.4/13, 4.3/13, 4.6/14, 4.8/15 and now 5.1/15.
Compared to its premiere, last night’s “Empire” was up 34% in adults 18-49, 55% in adults 18-34 and 30% in total viewers.
The only drama to bag a higher 18-49 rating for any regular telecast in recent years has been AMC’s “The Walking Dead.” The last broadcast drama to hit a 5 demo rating was ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” more than four years ago.
Fox crushed the competition on Wednesday, with its two-hour 18-49 average (3.9 rating/12 share) besting the combined three-hour totals of second-place ABC (2.0/6) and third-place NBC (1.4/4).
