Empire Ratings, News: Record Breaking Increase in Viewership

Fox's Empire this Wednesday drew 13.02 million total viewers and a 5.1 demo rating, rising 10 percent and four tenths, according to Nielsen's latest report. On a week-to-week basis, it gained a big 8 percent in the demo and 9 percent in total viewers. Compared with its premiere on January 7, it is up by 37 percent in the 18-49 age demographic and by 32 percent in total viewership. With respect to the social media, according to Nielsen Social Guide/Twitter estimates, Wednesday night's episode of Empire generated a whopping 615,461 tweets during its on-air broadcast.

James Hibberd at Entertainment Weekly observed: "Empire has broken a ratings record that stood for more than 23 years. According to Fox, Empire is the only primetime scripted series to grow in total viewers over each of its first five telecasts since at least 1991. This record has almost certainly stood for longer than that, but Nielsen revised its measuring system 23 years ago and so comparisons can only be properly calculated that far back.  Also, Empire is technically the only series - not just scripted - to have accomplished this."

How did Fox accomplished the feat? Brian Moylan at The Guardian offers and explanation. He wrote: "First, Empire - which has a cast which is almost all black - targeted the African American audience. Black viewers watch live television 42% more than the average American, meaning they watch the ads - which makes them great for networks. Fox reached out to the African American community through targeted screenings of the show before it even launched, turning the premiere into an event... Black audiences are particularly valuable early adopters because they overwhelmingly use Twitter to discuss television. Last year, Pew research found that 22 percent of African Americans use Twitter but only 16 percent of whites.... All of this noise on social media makes more people want to tune in to see what they're missing. But there is another word-of-mouth advantage that Twitter doesn't quite explain. That's just how damn crazy Empire is, which is why everyone is telling their friends to check it out."

Empire which stars Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson will return on air next Wednesday, February 25, with its eight episode for its maiden season titled "The Lyon's Roar." Guest starring are Naomi Campbell as Camilla, Gabourey Sidibe as Becky, Ta'Rhonda Jones as Porsha, and Eka Darville as Ryan. According to the studio's teaser, the episode will have the Lyon family to come together and record a legacy album with Lucious, Hakeem and Jamal. Cookie and Camilla (guest star Campbell) finally come face-to-face, Andre struggles with some inner demons and Jamal steps into the spotlight with news that surprises everyone.