Preliminary Ratings: Wednesday 02/18/15

The EMPIRE train just keeps a rollin'!! The hot drama posted yet another series best, commanding 12.9 million viewers and a 5.1 rating in Adults 18-49. Week-to-week, that is up one million viewers and 6% in the demo. Since the series premiere, six weeks earlier, the series has grown by three million viewers (+30%) and 1.4 ratings points (+34%) in the demo. it has been quite a while since we have seen a series get this strong, this quick, especially in the age of DVR and on-demand viewing.

For the night, FOX nearly doubled up #2, ABC, demo ratings and out drew total viewers by 2.5 million, over CBS. An let's not forget AMERICAN IDOL. It may not be the show it once was, but it is up a half a million viewers and 3% in the demo, over last year.

Over on CBS, they said good-bye to THE MENTALIST as the two episode finale averaged 10.2 million viewers and 1.4 demo rating. Above what it pulled in on most Wednesday nights. THE MENTALIST was a fun series that never quite got the full respect it had earned. Over the course of seven seasons, it aired on four different nights, usually slots that CBS had regular problems with holding an audience. Now, its time to binge watch all 151 episodes... if Netflix would ever get them.

Over on ABC, the four comedies dropped by an average of one tenth of a pint, in the demo, from last week's ratings, with MODERN FAMILY taking the biggest hit, with 10% gone in the demo, plus a drop of one million viewers. They still had an easy time placing second in the A18-49 ratings.

CHICAGO PD perked back up, after last week's tie with NASHVILLE, in the demo ratings. The crime drama jumped 20% in the demo, over last week's performance. LAW & ORDER also saw gains of 15% over last week.

Preliminary L+SD Network Averages:

ABC - 6.5 million viewers, 2.0 rating in A18-49

CBS - 9.2 million viewers, 1.3 rating in A18-49

CW - 2.2 million viewers, 0.8 rating in A18-49

FOX - 11.7 million viewers, 3.9 rating in A18-49

NBC - 6.4 million viewers, 1.4 rating in A18-49

Time	Net	Program	Viewers*	A18-49	+/-
8:00	ABC	The Middle	7.70	2.2
8:30	ABC	The Goldbergs	6.80	2.2	-12%
9:00	ABC	Modern Family	8.80	3.0	29%
9:30	ABC	Black-ish	6.50	2.2	-26%
10:00	ABC	Nashville	4.70	1.3	-28%
8:00	CBS	The Mentalist	9.80	1.3
9:00	CBS	The Mentalist	10.50	1.4	7%
10:00	CBS	Stalker	7.20	1.3	-31%
8:00	CW	Arrow	2.80	1.1
9:00	CW	The 100	1.50	0.6	-46%
8:00	FOX	American Idol	10.50	2.7
9:00	FOX	Empire	12.90	5.1	23%
8:00	NBC	The Mysteries of Laura	5.80	1.1
9:00	NBC	Law & Order: SVU	6.40	1.6	10%
10:00	NBC	Chicago PD	7.00	1.7	9%

* - in millions