Fast National ratings for Wednesday, March 25, 2015.
The departure of “Empire” from the Wednesday landscape didn't drive audiences back to its 9 p.m. competition, but the spring juggernaut's absence did allow “Survivor” to carry CBS to victory among young viewers, while “Criminal Minds” led overall.
“Criminal Minds” actually slipped slightly from its last original airing opposite “Empire,” as did “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” and “Modern Family,” which returned from a couple weeks away to a big drops.
On the positive side, The CW's “Arrow” rose from last week, but didn't help “Supernatural.”
Let's get to the numbers…
Among adults 18-49, CBS averaged a 1.9 rating for Wednesday night, tops in the key demographic. ABC and FOX were a close second with 1.7 key demo ratings. NBC's 1.3 key demo rating was good for fourth, followed by the 0.9 key demo rating for The CW.
Overall, CBS averaged an estimated 9.15 million viewers and a 5.6 rating/10 share for Wednesday primetime. FOX was a solid second with 8.34 million viewers and a 5.1/9. NBC's 4.1/7 and 6.22 million viewers edged out the 6.18 million viewers and 3.9/7 for ABC. The CW averaged 2.25 million viewers and a 1.5/2 for the night.
8 p.m. – “Survivor: Worlds Apart” started primetime in first for CBS with 9.52 million viewers and a 2.2 rating among adults 18-49. FOX's first “American Idol” hour was well back in second with 8.07 million viewers and finished third with a 1.7 key demo rating. ABC was third overall and second in the key demo with “The Middle” (7.24 million viewers and a 1.8 key demo) and “The Goldbergs” (6.68 million and a 2.0 key demo). NBC's “The Mysteries of Laura” was fourth with 6.38 million viewers and tied for fourth with a 1.0 key demo rating. The CW's “Arrow” also had a 1.0 key demo rating and averaged 2.775 million viewers for the hour.
9 p.m. – “Criminal Minds” won the 9 p.m. hour with 9.875 million viewers and finished second with a 2.0 rating among adults 18-49. FOX remained second overall with 8.62 million viewers and third with a 1.7 key demo rating. ABC won the hour in the 18-49 demo and finished third overall with “Modern Family” (8.54 million and a 2.8 key demo) and “Black-ish” (6.475 million and a 2.1 key demo). NBC's “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” was fourth with 5.95 million viewers and a 1.3 key demo rating, followed at a distance by the 1.73 million viewers and 0.7 key demo rating for The CW's “Supernatural.”
10 p.m. – “CSI: Cyber” completed CBS' overall primetime sweep with 8.06 million viewers and finished second for the 10 p.m. hour with a 1.4 rating among adults 18-49. NBC's “Chicago PD” was second with 6.315 million viewers and won the hour with a 1.5 key demo rating. ABC's “Nashville: On the Record 2” special averaged 4.07 million viewers and a 0.8 key demo rating.
All ratings information comes from preliminary Fast National Nielsen data, which includes live and same-day DVR viewing. All numbers are subject to change.