RATINGS RECAP: 3/4/15

ABC
8:00 The Middle
Viewers: 8.2 million, 18-49 demo: 2.2
8:30 The Goldbergs
Viewers: 7.9 million, 18-49 demo: 2.5
9:00 Modern Family
Viewers: 9.6 million, 18-49 demo: 3.4
9:30 Black-ish
Viewers: 6.7 million, 18-49 demo: 2.3
10:00 Nashville
Viewers: 5.3 million, 18-49 demo: 1.4

CBS
8:00 Survivor
Viewers: 9.8 million, 18-49 demo: 2.3
9:00 Criminal Minds
Viewers: 10.4 million, 18-49 demo: 1.9
10:00 CSI: Cyber
Viewers: 10.5 million, 18-49 demo: 1.8

NBC
8:00 The Voice Clip Show
Viewers: 8.6 million, 18-49 demo: 2.1
10:00 Chicago PD (Repeat)
Viewers: 4.8 million, 18-49 demo: 1.1

FOX
8:00 American Idol
Viewers: 8.9 million, 18-49 demo: 2.1
9:00 Empire
Viewers: 14.3 million, 18-49 demo: 5.8

Wednesday night had an OK premiere from CBS and another stunning rise from Empire. First up on CBS, Survivor was down two tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo from last week's premiere. At 9pm, Criminal Minds was up half a million viewers, but it tied the series low in the demo it set in its last airing. At 10pm was the newest CSI spinoff: CSI: Cyber. Retention out of Criminal Minds was excellent, but the overall numbers were pretty meh. The demo was below Stalker's premiere numbers in the fall but it skewed old because the total viewership was better. It's going to have to hold on exceptionally well to be in the conversation for renewal. On FOX, American Idol was hit hard by a Voice clip show and was down 1.5 million viewers and six tenths in the demo for a Wednesday low. It only tied the clip show of its rival. But the news got much better for FOX at 9pm where Empire was up four tenths in viewers and the demo. It has now smashed past the season premiere of The Big Bang Theory for best scripted demo of the season (not counting the post-Super Bowl episode of The Blacklist). This is unbelievable.

Despite the competition, ABC had a great night with everything up or even. The Middle started things off up seven tenths in viewers and two tenths in the demo. The Goldbergs continued its sensational sophomore season. It was up three tenths in viewers and even in the demo. The viewer total was the best since the series premiere. At 9pm, Modern Family was up three tenths in viewers and even in the demo while Black-ish was up a tenth in viewers and the demo. It's interesting that even as Empire has continued to rise, Black-ish has seemed less negatively impacted by it than it did at first. Nashville closed things out at 10pm up four tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo.

WINNER OF THE NIGHT: Empire (FOX)
LOSER OF THE NIGHT: American Idol (FOX)