The return of “Empire” brought FOX some much-needed good ratings news — and the No. 1 spot in the weekly adults 18-49 rankings for March 28-April 3.
The show’s 4.8 rating in the 18-49 demo was up three tenths from its fall finale and led the week by 1.3 points over “The Big Bang Theory” (3.5). “Empire” also gave “Rosewood” a 0.4 week-to-week bump and a spot in the Top 25 with a 1.4.
“The Big Bang Theory” and “Empire” flipped places in the viewer rankings, with “Big Bang’s” 14.24 million viewers leading the way. “Empire” came in at 12.46 million.
Top 25 broadcast shows (including ties) in adults 18-49 for March 28-April 3, 2016
| Rank | Show | Net | 18-49 Rating | 18-49 Viewers (000s) |
| 1 | EMPIRE | FOX | 4.8 | 6066 |
| 2 | THE BIG BANG THEORY | CBS | 3.5 | 4492 |
| 3 | THE VOICE – MONDAY | NBC | 2.8 | 3562 |
| 4 | THE VOICE – TUESDAY | NBC | 2.4 | 3030 |
| 5 | ACM AWARDS – S | CBS | 2.3 | 2857 |
| 6 | GREY’S ANATOMY | ABC | 2.2 | 2763 |
| 7 | AMERICAN IDOL | FOX | 2.1 | 2618 |
| 8 | SURVIVOR | CBS | 2.0 | 2571 |
| 9 | LITTLE BIG SHOTS | NBC | 1.8 | 2337 |
| 9t | CRIMINAL MINDS | CBS | 1.8 | 2287 |
| 8t | CHICAGO MED | NBC | 1.8 | 2278 |
| 12 | LIFE IN PIECES – F | CBS | 1.7 | 2199 |
| 12t | SCANDAL | ABC | 1.7 | 2199 |
| 12t | CHICAGO FIRE | NBC | 1.7 | 2190 |
| 12t | SUPERGIRL | CBS | 1.7 | 2166 |
| 12t | DANCING WITH THE STARS | ABC | 1.7 | 2127 |
| 17 | SCORPION | CBS | 1.6 | 2061 |
| 17t | BLINDSPOT | NBC | 1.6 | 1999 |
| 17t | 2 BROKE GIRLS | CBS | 1.6 | 1985 |
| 20 | CHICAGO PD | NBC | 1.5 | 1903 |
| 21 | LAW AND ORDER:SVU | NBC | 1.4 | 1812 |
| 21t | ROSEWOOD | FOX | 1.4 | 1753 |
| 23 | THE FLASH | CW | 1.3 | 1692 |
| 23t | GOTHAM | FOX | 1.3 | 1690 |
| 23t | CRIMINAL MINDS: BEYOND BORDERS | CBS | 1.3 | 1643 |
| 23t | MODERN FAMILY – R | ABC | 1.3 | 1603 |
Top 25 broadcast shows in viewers for March 28-April 3, 2016
| Rank | Show | Net | Viewers (000s) |
| 1 | THE BIG BANG THEORY | CBS | 14237 |
| 2 | EMPIRE | FOX | 12455 |
| 3 | DANCING WITH THE STARS | ABC | 11971 |
| 4 | THE VOICE – MONDAY | NBC | 11380 |
| 5 | LITTLE BIG SHOTS | NBC | 11329 |
| 6 | ACM AWARDS – S | CBS | 11203 |
| 7 | THE VOICE – TUESDAY | NBC | 11099 |
| 8 | BLUE BLOODS | CBS | 10396 |
| 9 | NCIS – R | CBS | 10380 |
| 10 | 60 MINUTES | CBS | 9526 |
| 11 | CRIMINAL MINDS | CBS | 9165 |
| 12 | SURVIVOR | CBS | 9159 |
| 13 | AMERICAN IDOL | FOX | 9105 |
| 14 | NCIS: LOS ANGELES | CBS | 8909 |
| 15 | NCIS: NEW ORLEANS | CBS | 8893 |
| 16 | SCORPION | CBS | 8735 |
| 17 | CHICAGO MED | NBC | 8679 |
| 18 | CHICAGO FIRE | NBC | 8657 |
| 19 | HAWAII FIVE-0 | CBS | 8454 |
| 20 | GREY’S ANATOMY | ABC | 7768 |
| 21 | LIFE IN PIECES | CBS | 7225 |
| 22 | SUPERGIRL | CBS | 7166 |
| 23 | CRIMINAL MINDS: BEYOND BORDERS | CBS | 7068 |
| 24 | CHICAGO PD | NBC | 6789 |
| 25 | SCANDAL | ABC | 6436 |
All numbers are live + same-day. Source: The Nielsen Company.