Preliminary Ratings: Wednesday 01/21/15

FOX has become the network to beat, on Wednesday nights. Its one-two punch of AMERICAN IDOL and EMPIRE dominated the ratings, both in total viewers and in the A18-49 Ratings.

AMERICAN IDOL, now in its third week, posted its best numbers of the short season. In recent seasons, the numbers begin to plunge after week one. Year-to-year, IDOL is down 1.8 million viewers and 17% in the demo, but compared to week three of last year (airing on Jan 29), IDOL is up a notch in both categories. It looks like IDOL may have found its new level of viewership, and it is not half bad.

EMPIRE, TV's #1 drama in the A18-49 demographic, posted another stellar demo rating, topping last week's number by 8%. Viewership is also up another 700k, from last week. Since the series premiere, two weeks earlier, EMPIRE has grown 1.1 million viewers and 13% in the demo.

CBS was a solid second place on the night. Week-to-week, THE MENTALIST was up, CRIMINAL MINDS was down and STALKER was flat. We are still another full month away from the return of the new SURVIVOR season and CBS sure could use the better lead in to help out the two dramas.

NBC only aired original episode for two of the three crime dramas. LAW & ORDER: SVU hit a low 1.2 demo rating, thanks to a repeat of MYSTERIES OF LAURA as the lead in. CHICAGO PD remained flat, tying STALKER for the top A18-49 number in the 10 p.m. hour.

The CW was back with original episodes of ARROW and THE 100. Both series were flat from their last original episodes, back on December 10, 2014.

Preliminary L+SD Network Averages:

ABC - 3.8 million viewers, 1.0 rating in A18-49

CBS - 9.2 million viewers, 1.6 rating in A18-49

CW - 2.3 million viewers, 0.8 rating in A18-49

FOX - 11.2 million viewers, 3.8 rating in A18-49

NBC - 6.2 million viewers, 1.2 rating in A18-49

Time	Net	Program	Viewers*	A18-49	+/-
8:00	ABC	The Middle [R]	5.60	1.3
8:30	ABC	The Goldbergs [R]	4.60	1.3	-18%
9:00	ABC	Modern Family [R]	5.30	1.5	15%
9:30	ABC	Black-ish [R]	3.90	1.1	-26%
10:00	ABC	Black-ish [R]	1.80	0.5	-54%
10:30	ABC	Modern Family [R]	1.50	0.4	-17%
8:00	CBS	The Mentalist	9.50	1.5
9:00	CBS	Criminal Minds	10.20	1.9	7%
10:00	CBS	Stalker	8.00	1.5	-22%
8:00	CW	Arrow	3.00	1.1
9:00	CW	The 100	1.60	0.6	-47%
8:00	FOX	American Idol	11.50	3.3
9:00	FOX	Empire	11.00	4.3	-4%
8:00	NBC	The Mysteries of Laura [R]	4.80	0.8
9:00	NBC	Law & Order: SVU	6.70	1.2	40%
10:00	NBC	Chicago PD	7.00	1.5	4%

* - in millions