‘Empire’ Hits New High, Leads Premiere Week L+7 Ratings Gains With ‘Blindspot’

The results for the broadcast premiere week are in, and the second season premiere of Fox’s juggernaut Empire now stands at the series’ highest rated episode. It added a 2.7 adults 18-49 rating from Live+Same Day to Live+7 (+40%) to hit a 9.4 demo rating, edging the 9 PM episode of the Season 1 finale. (Empire had already edged the two-hour finale, now it also has pulled ahead of the highly rated second part of the closer after trailing by a tenth in Live+3).

Empire and NBC freshman drama Blindspot kept their No.1 spots from the Live+3 rankings for biggest absolute 18-49 gains in L+7 (Empire, 2.7) and total viewers (Blindspot, 5.894 million, edging Empire‘s 5.829 million). Empire also widened its advantage over No.2 Sunday Night Football to 1.2 rating.

ABC’s Nashville (2.2) also kept its top L+3 position for percentage 18-49 gain among scripted series, tying CBS’ NCIS: Los Angeles (2.2) and ABC’s Castle at +83%. (The CW’s America’s Next Top Model, 0.8 in L+7, once again was No.1 overall off a very small base, +100%)

Like in Live+3, CBS’ The Big Bang Theory (23.726 million, 6.8 in 18-49) was the most watched program of Premiere Week. Among adults 18-49, it was edged by ABC’s Modern Family (5.4 in L+7) for largest absolute gain for a comedy series (2.2 vs 2.1).

Notable freshman gainers: Fox’s Scream Queens (3.1 in L+7, up 1.4 rating, +82%), Fox’s Minority Report, which just got its order reduced (2.0 in L+7, up +0.9 rating, +82) and ABC’s Quantico (3.4, up 1.5 rating. +79%). Quantico also was the freshman series with the second largest total viewer lift behind Blindspot, 5 million.

Here are the ranking for all programs during premiere week (Sept. 21-27) in adults 18-49 and total viewers:

Adults 18-49

Program	Net	Live+SD Rating	L+7 Rating	Lift	% Lift
EMPIRE	FOX	6.7	9.4	2.7	40%
MODERN FAMILY	ABC	3.2	5.4	2.2	69%
BIG BANG THEORY, THE	CBS	4.7	6.8	2.1	45%
BLINDSPOT	NBC	3.1	5.0	1.9	61%
SCANDAL	ABC	3.3	5.1	1.8	55%
HOW TO GET AWAY W/MURDER	ABC	2.6	4.3	1.7	65%
GREY’S ANATOMY	ABC	2.8	4.4	1.6	57%
QUANTICO	ABC	1.9	3.4	1.5	79%
BLACK-ISH	ABC	2.4	3.8	1.4	58%
SCREAM QUEENS	FOX	1.7	3.1	1.4	82%
HEROES REBORN	NBC	2.0	3.4	1.4	70%
LIMITLESS	CBS	1.9	3.2	1.3	68%
GOLDBERGS, THE	ABC	2.4	3.6	1.2	50%
GOTHAM	FOX	1.6	2.8	1.2	75%
LAW AND ORDER:SVU	NBC	1.8	3.0	1.2	67%
ONCE UPON A TIME	ABC	1.8	2.9	1.1	61%
MUPPETS, THE	ABC	2.9	4.0	1.1	38%
SCORPION	CBS	2.2	3.3	1.1	50%
NCIS	CBS	2.5	3.6	1.1	44%
CASTLE	ABC	1.2	2.2	1.0	83%
NASHVILLE	ABC	1.2	2.2	1.0	83%
NCIS: LOS ANGELES	CBS	1.2	2.2	1.0	83%
MIDDLE, THE	ABC	2.1	3.0	0.9	43%
NCIS: NEW ORLEANS	CBS	1.7	2.6	0.9	53%
CSI – SPECIAL	CBS	1.8	2.7	0.9	50%
MINORITY REPORT	FOX	1.1	2.0	0.9	82%
LAST MAN ON EARTH	FOX	1.4	2.3	0.9	64%
FAMILY GUY	FOX	1.5	2.4	0.9	60%
VOICE	NBC	3.5	4.4	0.9	26%
VOICE-TUE	NBC	3.5	4.4	0.9	26%
SURVIVOR	CBS	2.5	3.3	0.8	32%
AMAZING RACE	CBS	1.2	2.0	0.8	67%
HAWAII FIVE-0	CBS	1.0	1.8	0.8	80%
BLUE BLOODS	CBS	1.3	2.1	0.8	62%
LIFE IN PIECES	CBS	2.6	3.4	0.8	31%
BROOKLYN NINE-NINE	FOX	1.5	2.3	0.8	53%
SHARK TANK	ABC	1.7	2.4	0.7	41%
BLOOD & OIL	ABC	1.4	2.1	0.7	50%
FRESH OFF THE BOAT	ABC	1.9	2.6	0.7	37%
LAST MAN STANDING	ABC	1.1	1.8	0.7	64%
PLAYER	NBC	1.2	1.9	0.7	58%
ROSEWOOD	FOX	2.4	3.0	0.6	25%
SIMPSONS	FOX	1.5	2.1	0.6	40%
BIG BROTHER-WED	CBS	2.2	2.7	0.5	23%
BEST TIME EVER WITH NPH	NBC	2.1	2.6	0.5	24%
MYSTERIES OF LAURA	NBC	1.2	1.7	0.5	42%
DANCING WITH THE STARS	ABC	1.8	2.2	0.4	22%
DANCING W/STARS SP-9/22	ABC	1.5	1.9	0.4	27%
AMERICA’S TOP MODEL-16	CW	0.4	0.8	0.4	100%
BOB’S BURGERS	FOX	1.2	1.6	0.4	33%
DATELINE FRI	NBC	1.0	1.4	0.4	40%
20/20-FRI	ABC	1.3	1.6	0.3	23%
48 HOURS 9PM SPECIAL	CBS	0.8	1.1	0.3	38%
48 HOURS	CBS	0.9	1.2	0.3	33%
MUPPETS SP-9/25, THE	ABC	0.8	1.0	0.2	25%
DARK SWAN RISES: FAN APPR	ABC	0.7	0.8	0.1	14%
CRIMETIME SATURDAY 8PM	CBS	0.7	0.8	0.1	14%
CBS+NFLN THU NT PRE-KICK	CBS	3.3	3.4	0.1	3%
60 MINUTES	CBS	2.9	3.0	0.1	3%
PENN & TELLER:FOOL US	CW	0.3	0.4	0.1	33%
SCREAM QUEENS-SP 9/24	FOX	0.7	0.8	0.1	14%
MINORITY REPORT-SP 9/25	FOX	0.7	0.8	0.1	14%
ROSEWOOD-SP 9/25 9P	FOX	0.5	0.6	0.1	20%
NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL	NBC	8.1	8.2	0.1	1%
SNFTBL NISSAN PRE-GAME	ABC	0.6	0.6	0.0	0%
SATURDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL	ABC	0.7	0.7	0.0	0%
CBS+NFLN THU NT KICK-OFF2	CBS	2.2	2.2	0.0	0%
CBS NFL NATL POST GUN	CBS	6.4	6.4	0.0	0%
CBS NFL NATL POST GAME	CBS	4.4	4.4	0.0	0%
CBS+NFLN THU NT FOOTBALL	CBS	6.0	6.0	0.0	0%
FLASH	CW	0.4	0.4	0.0	0%
FLASH-9/22	CW	0.4	0.4	0.0	0%
FLASH-9/24	CW	0.4	0.4	0.0	0%
ARROW	CW	0.3	0.3	0.0	0%
SIGNIFICANT MOTHER	CW	0.2	0.2	0.0	0%
WICKED OFFER	CW	0.2	0.2	0.0	0%
MASTERS OF ILLUSION	CW	0.4	0.4	0.0	0%
PENN & TELLER:FOOL US-ENC	CW	0.3	0.3	0.0	0%
WHOSE LINE IS IT ANYWAY	CW	0.3	0.3	0.0	0%
WHOSE LINE IS IT-ENC	CW	0.3	0.3	0.0	0%
FOX COLLEGE FOOTBALL	FOX	1.0	1.0	0.0	0%
FAMILY GUY-SP 9/27 7P	FOX	0.8	0.8	0.0	0%
BEST TIME EVER NPH 9/25	NBC	0.7	0.7	0.0	0%
CARMICHAEL SHOW 9/26	NBC	0.4	0.4	0.0	0%
FOOTBALL NT AMERICA PT 2	NBC	3.0	3.0	0.0	0%
FOOTBALL NT AMERICA PT 3	NBC	4.4	4.4	0.0	0%
SUNDAY NIGHT NFL PRE-KICK	NBC	5.5	5.5	0.0	0%
NBC PBC BOXING-PRIME	NBC	0.6	0.6	0.0	0%

Total viewers:

Program	Net	Viewers (000)	Vieiwers (000)	Lift
BLINDSPOT	NBC	10,605	16,589	5,984
EMPIRE	FOX	16,184	22,113	5,929
BIG BANG THEORY, THE	CBS	18,203	23,726	5,523
QUANTICO	ABC	7,142	12,153	5,011
MODERN FAMILY	ABC	9,463	14,277	4,814
HOW TO GET AWAY W/MURDER	ABC	8,378	12,994	4,616
SCANDAL	ABC	10,247	14,734	4,487
LIMITLESS	CBS	9,857	14,258	4,401
NCIS	CBS	18,191	22,469	4,278
BLUE BLOODS	CBS	10,082	14,339	4,257
CASTLE	ABC	6,840	10,920	4,080
SCORPION	CBS	11,087	15,130	4,043
NCIS: LOS ANGELES	CBS	7,981	11,857	3,876
NCIS: NEW ORLEANS	CBS	12,616	16,445	3,829
CSI – SPECIAL	CBS	12,222	15,808	3,586
GREY’S ANATOMY	ABC	9,549	12,907	3,358
BLACK-ISH	ABC	7,303	10,592	3,289
HEROES REBORN	NBC	6,090	9,221	3,131
HAWAII FIVE-0	CBS	8,299	11,414	3,115
LAW AND ORDER:SVU	NBC	8,274	11,383	3,109
SCREAM QUEENS	FOX	4,038	7,057	3,019
GOTHAM	FOX	4,569	7,487	2,918
MUPPETS, THE	ABC	9,005	11,688	2,683
NASHVILLE	ABC	4,910	7,541	2,631
BLOOD & OIL	ABC	6,363	8,989	2,626
PLAYER	NBC	4,858	7,451	2,593
VOICE-TUE	NBC	12,348	14,921	2,573
VOICE	NBC	12,371	14,935	2,564
ONCE UPON A TIME	ABC	5,925	8,366	2,441
GOLDBERGS, THE	ABC	7,619	10,049	2,430
MINORITY REPORT	FOX	3,097	5,489	2,392
AMAZING RACE	CBS	5,824	8,115	2,291
SURVIVOR	CBS	9,700	11,926	2,226
LIFE IN PIECES	CBS	11,276	13,499	2,223
MIDDLE, THE	ABC	8,205	10,337	2,132
ROSEWOOD	FOX	7,544	9,656	2,112
DANCING W/STARS SP-9/22	ABC	9,579	11,563	1,984
MYSTERIES OF LAURA	NBC	7,109	9,073	1,964
LAST MAN STANDING	ABC	6,265	8,151	1,886
SHARK TANK	ABC	6,085	7,911	1,826
LAST MAN ON EARTH	FOX	3,136	4,943	1,807
DANCING WITH THE STARS	ABC	11,509	13,144	1,635
FRESH OFF THE BOAT	ABC	6,054	7,564	1,510
BROOKLYN NINE-NINE	FOX	3,140	4,608	1,468
FAMILY GUY	FOX	2,866	4,317	1,451
BIG BROTHER-WED	CBS	6,537	7,917	1,380
DATELINE FRI	NBC	5,080	6,233	1,153
20/20-FRI	ABC	5,385	6,500	1,115
BEST TIME EVER WITH NPH	NBC	5,907	7,009	1,102
SIMPSONS	FOX	3,279	4,335	1,056
AMERICA’S TOP MODEL-16	CW	1,346	2,017	671
48 HOURS 9PM SPECIAL	CBS	4,159	4,803	644
48 HOURS	CBS	5,247	5,886	639
60 MINUTES	CBS	15,044	15,599	555
BOB’S BURGERS	FOX	2,510	3,053	543
MUPPETS SP-9/25, THE	ABC	3,589	4,048	459
CRIMETIME SATURDAY 8PM	CBS	3,393	3,743	350
PENN & TELLER:FOOL US	CW	1,213	1,547	334
ROSEWOOD-SP 9/25 9P	FOX	2,126	2,448	322
DARK SWAN RISES: FAN APPR	ABC	3,199	3,505	306
SCREAM QUEENS-SP 9/24	FOX	2,009	2,279	270
MINORITY REPORT-SP 9/25	FOX	2,274	2,534	260
FLASH-9/22	CW	1,122	1,282	160
BEST TIME EVER NPH 9/25	NBC	3,034	3,157	123
CBS+NFLN THU NT FOOTBALL	CBS	16,882	16,985	103
FLASH-9/24	CW	1,121	1,218	97
FLASH	CW	1,207	1,298	91
NBC PBC BOXING-PRIME	NBC	2,179	2,264	85
NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL	NBC	22,072	22,156	84
PENN & TELLER:FOOL US-ENC	CW	1,270	1,346	76
WHOSE LINE IS IT ANYWAY	CW	995	1,071	76
MASTERS OF ILLUSION	CW	1,354	1,427	73
SIGNIFICANT MOTHER	CW	502	560	58
CBS+NFLN THU NT PRE-KICK	CBS	10,611	10,666	55
SUNDAY NIGHT NFL PRE-KICK	NBC	15,616	15,666	50
WHOSE LINE IS IT-ENC	CW	1,239	1,288	49
CARMICHAEL SHOW 9/26	NBC	1,161	1,199	38
ARROW	CW	778	810	32
CBS NFL NATL POST GUN	CBS	18,869	18,892	23
FOOTBALL NT AMERICA PT 3	NBC	11,905	11,925	20
CBS+NFLN THU NT KICK-OFF2	CBS	7,546	7,563	17
WICKED OFFER	CW	500	516	16
FOOTBALL NT AMERICA PT 2	NBC	8,302	8,316	14
SATURDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL	ABC	2,386	2,399	13
FOX COLLEGE FOOTBALL	FOX	2,975	2,988	13
FAMILY GUY-SP 9/27 7P	FOX	2,054	2,066	12
CBS NFL NATL POST GAME	CBS	13,031	13,037	6
SNFTBL NISSAN PRE-GAME	ABC	2,444	2,449	5