Another week and more accolades for television’s hottest show. Based purely on our empirical research, after seven weeks, one thing is clear: Fox’s freshman stunner, Empire, is a rating MONSTER.
How can you describe a show that grows its audience, EVERY week that it airs? Dare we say that at this stage, Empire has moved past trendy phrases and designations such as “megahit,” “phenom” and “unprecedented” to legendary television status.
On Wednesday, Empire added nearly 1 million more viewers to approach the 14-million mark while growing yet again in the key young-adult demo of adults 18-49 (up a tick to a 5.3 rating/15 share), according to Nielsen national estimates. In 18-49, it bested the night’s former champ, ABC’s Modern Family, by more than 50%.
Empire has now grown seven consecutive weeks in total viewership since its January 7 premiere: 9.90 million (Jan. 7), 10.32 million (Jan. 14), 11.07 million (Jan. 21), 11.35 million (Jan. 28), 11.47 million (Feb. 4), 11.96 million (Feb. 18), 13.02 million (Feb. 18) and now a preliminary 13.8 million.
Last week, Empire moved ahead of CBS’ The Big Bang Theory as the week’s top broadcast series in 18-49 for the first time. Only AMC’s The Walking Dead topped it overall (6.9 rating).
With only three episodes before the season finale, how high will Empire soar? If the first seven weeks are an indication, there will be plenty of knock-off shows coming from its envious competitors during pilot season.