‘Empire’ Returns Steady But Can’t Top CMAs Audience

ABC: ABC’s CMA Awards coverage averaged 13.6 million total viewers and a 3.8 demo rating, falling 17 and 16 percent from last year’s broadcast while still leading the night in total viewers. “The CMA Awards” stood as Wednesday’s most-watched TV show overall, topping “Empire” by 2.0 million viewers (13.6 million vs. 11.6 million).

With a few Justin Timberlake, spicy language from William Shatner and a lot of Star Wars, the 49th Annual Country Music Association awards show saw big wins for Chris Stapleton, Luke Bryan and Miranda Lambert.

Despite facing “Empire” in the middle hour of the night, ABC’s “CMA Awards” outperformed CBS’ April telecast of the “ACM Awards” by 6% among Adults 18-49 (3.6/11 on 4/19/15). While there is no guarantee this year’s broadcast suffered the same 15% drop in those columns, the deflated overnight household rating signposts a decline of a few sort.

Opening Fox’s night, a new Rosewood pulled in 5.1 million total viewers and a 1.5 demo rating, slipping ever so slightly in total viewers and ticking down a tenth in the demo.

Meanwhile, FOX (3.247 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.1, #4) offered up new episodes of “Hell’s Kitchen” (3.619 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T6) and “Red Band Society” (2.874 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.9, #10).

CBS finished third with 7.6 million viewers and a 1.6 in the key demo. Chicago P.D. did a 1.4, down 7% from last week’s two-hour episode.

NBC was fourth with 6.7 million viewers and a 1.4 rating in the demo.

The CW was fifth in total viewers with a 2.1 million average, tying with Univision in the key demo with a 0.8.

The CW, meanwhile, got a 1.1 from Arrow, up 10%, while Supernatural’s 0.6 tumbled 33%.

Telemundo came in seventh place with 1.7 million viewers and a 0.6 rating.