Preliminary Ratings: Wednesday 01/07/15

OMG!!  FOX may actually have its another hit series, in a sea of disappointments and failures. The series premiere of EMPIRE was Wednesday night's top program in the coveted A18-49 demographic ratings, beating MODERN FAMILY, head-to-head. The drama grew nearly 20% in the demo, from its AMERICAN IDOL lead in. Something not seen in a long time, if ever, on FOX. The Network easily swept the night, more than doubling up CBS and NBC in the demo and out distancing ABC by 70%.

CBS was second in total viewers, but had poor numbers from the PEOPLE CHOICE AWARDS. Year-to-year, the awards program lost 1.8 million viewers and 25% in the demo. It tied ABC for second place, from 9 to 11 p.m., and just edged NBC. Were viewers turned off by the new hosts of the show, or was it just an "off year?"

ABC had a decent night, with its four sitcoms returning to new episodes. From 8-10 p.m., ABC averaged a 2.5 demo rating and eight million viewers. It was the encore of the GALAVANT series premiere that drug the average down on the night.

NBC had an OK night, despite placing fourth in the A18-49 ratings, and third in total viewers. The return of the three crime dramas was a bit underwhelming, but up from their last original episodes, on December 10th.

Preliminary L+SD Network Averages:

ABC - 6.3 million viewers, 2.0 rating in A18-49

CBS - 8.7 million viewers, 1.6 rating in A18-49

CW - 1.0 million viewers, 0.3 rating in A18-49

FOX - 10.4 million viewers, 3.4 rating in A18-49

NBC - 7.3 million viewers, 1.5 rating in A18-49

Time	Net	Program	Viewers*	A18-49	+/-
8:00	ABC	The Middle	8.50	2.3
8:30	ABC	The Goldbergs	7.80	2.5	-8%
9:00	ABC	Modern Family	9.20	3.2	18%
9:30	ABC	Black-ish	6.30	2.1	-32%
10:00	ABC	Galavant [R]	3.00	0.9	-52%
8:00	CBS	The Mentalist	9.00	1.3
9:00	CBS	The People Choice Awards	8.60	1.8	-4%
8:00	CW	Arrow [R]	1.00	0.2
9:00	CW	Penn & Teller: Fool Us [R]	1.10	0.4	10%
8:00	FOX	American Idol (SP)	10.90	3.1
9:00	FOX	Empire (SP)	9.80	3.7	-10%
8:00	NBC	The Mysteries of Laura	6.80	1.3
9:00	NBC	Law & Order: SVU	7.80	1.7	15%
10:00	NBC	Chicago PD	7.40	1.6	-5%

* - in millions