RATINGS RECAP: 3/16/16

ABC
8:00 The Middle
Viewers: 7.2 million, 18-49 demo: 1.7
8:30 The Goldbergs
Viewers: 6.7 million, 18-49 demo: 2.0
9:00 Modern Family
Viewers: 8.1 million, 18-49 demo: 2.5
9:30 Black-ish
Viewers: 6.1 million, 18-49 demo: 1.9
10:00 Nashville
Viewers: 4.2 million, 18-49 demo: 0.9

CBS
8:00 Survivor
Viewers: 9.5 million, 18-49 demo: 2.1
9:00 Criminal Minds
Viewers: 9.8 million, 18-49 demo: 1.9
10:00 Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders
Viewers: 8.9 million, 18-49 demo: 1.6

NBC
8:00 Law & Order: SVU (Repeat)
Viewers: 4.7 million, 18-49 demo: 1.0
9:00 Law & Order: SVU (Repeat)
Viewers: 4.3 million, 18-49 demo: 1.0
10:00 Chicago PD (Repeat)
Viewers: 4.1 million, 18-49 demo: 0.9

FOX
8:00 Rosewood
Viewers: 3.7 million, 18-49 demo: 0.9
9:00 Hell's Kitchen
Viewers: 3.6 million, 18-49 demo: 1.1

On Wednesday night, CBS had a series premiere that was modest but serviceable. First up, Survivor had a great night as it showed no signs of a Daylight Savings problem and was up two tenths in viewers and even in the demo. At 9pm, Criminal Minds was up half a million viewers and even in the demo. Will this have trouble like it did in the fall when Empire returns in two weeks? It led into the series premiere of the new spinoff series, Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders. It delivered an OK 8.9 million viewers and 1.6 demo. Retention was decent out of the mothership and it did do a tenth better in the demo than Code Black ever did. It depends on how it does in the weeks to come but I'd put its renewal chances slightly above 50% with this kind of start.

On ABC, The Middle had a rough night as it was down a tenth in viewers and two tenths in the demo from its last new airing three weeks ago. It was a good night for The Goldbergs, however. Though it was down a bit from its post-Oscars episode at 8pm, it was up from its last 8:30pm episode. It also had the most separation from The Middle since the season premiere. I think next season might be the year to move The Middle to Tuesdays and let The Goldbergs lead off on Wednesdays. At 9pm, Modern Family was down a tenth in viewers and the demo. Black-ish was down a tenth in viewers and even in the demo. Nashville returned from its long hiatus and was up a tenth in the demo for the fall finale, but still low at a 0.9 demo. Finally on FOX, Rosewood was even with last week while Hell's Kitchen was down two tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo.

WINNER OF THE NIGHT: The Goldbergs (ABC)
LOSER OF THE NIGHT: The Middle (ABC)