Black Viewers Pushing ‘Empire’ to Historic Highs

It's had four consecutive weeks of growing viewership.

By Jamilah King Jan 29, 2015

"Empire," Fox’s hugely successful hip-hop-flavored soap opera, had its biggest audience yet last night. It marks the fourth straight week of ratings growth. 

Here’s more from Vulture:

According to preliminary same-day Nielsen data, Empire ruled over 11.3 million viewers, up from last week’s overnight audience of 10.9 million and about 15 percent higher than the show’s January 7 premiere tune-in. Among adults under 50, the show’s growth spurt does appear to have ended, withEmpire notching 4.3 rating (the same number it did in last week’s preliminary ratings; it ticked up to a 4.4 in final same-day numbers). Fox projects that once DVR replays are tallied, last night’s episode will end up at a 6.1 demo rating, putting Empire on track to finish its freshman season in March as broadcast TV’s No. 1 drama. 

Josef Adalian wrote more about how African-Americans are pushing it to historic highs. "Nielsen reports that last week’s episode was seen in a jaw-dropping 33 percent of all black homes — or five times as many as the No. 2 scripted broadcast show last week, NCIS: Los Angeles."

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