Preliminary Ratings: Wednesday 10/08/14

CBS and ABC were the top networks on Thursday night. ABC edges CBS in the A18-49 demographic, while CBS has an easy time grabbing the most viewers. One the other end, The CW gives FOX a run for its money, despite airing only one hour of original programming, to the two hours by FOX.

 ARROW was the lone season premiere of the night, hauling in 2.8 million viewers and a solid 1.0 rating in Adults 18-49. That is even in viewership to last year's premiere, but up 11% in the A18-49 demographic. A relatively solid start for the third year action drama.

CBS won every hour of the night, in total viewers and two of the three hours, in the A18-49 ratings. The ABC combo of MODERN FAMILY and BLACK-ISH topped all shows, at 9 p.m., with a 3.1 demo ratings average.

Even with the downturn in the ratings almost all shows are experiencing this week, CRIMINAL MINDS and STALKER only lost a million viewers each, about a 10% drop, and about 15% in the demo ratings. STALKER still wins the 10 p.m. hour, but like most 10 p.m. broadcast series, viewership drops off in favor of cable offerings or bed time, and watched later via the DVR.

Preliminary L+SD Network Averages:

ABC - 7.2 million viewers, 2.2 rating in A18-49

CBS - 9.4 million viewers, 2.1 rating in A18-49

CW - 2.4 million viewers, 0.8 rating in A18-49

FOX - 3.3 million viewers, 1.1 rating in A18-49

NBC - 7.6 million viewers, 1.5 rating in A18-49

Time	Net	Program	Viewers*	A18-49	+/-
8:00	ABC	The Middle	7.40	2.0
8:30	ABC	The Goldbergs	7.00	2.2	-5%
9:00	ABC	Modern Family	10.10	3.4	44%
9:30	ABC	Black-ish	8.00	2.8	-21%
10:00	ABC	Nashville	5.50	1.5	-31%
8:00	CBS	Survivor	9.50	2.5
9:00	CBS	Criminal Minds	10.50	2.3	11%
10:00	CBS	Stalker	8.10	1.7	-23%
8:00	CW	Arrow	2.80	1.0
9:00	CW	The Flash [R]	2.10	0.6	-25%
8:00	FOX	Hell's Kitchen	3.80	1.4
9:00	FOX	Red Band Society	2.90	0.9	-24%
8:00	NBC	The Mysteries of Laura	8.50	1.3
9:00	NBC	Law & Order: SVU	7.60	1.7	-11%
10:00	NBC	Chicago PD	6.70	1.5	-12%

* - in millions