Thie 'People's Choice Awards' inched up from last year's presentation on Wednesday night, but ABC took the night thanks largely to "Modern Family," which grew after a month-long break and took the night's top ratings, according to preliminary numbers.
ABC grabbed first place in the advertiser-sought 18-49 demographic with a 2.6 rating/7 share and second in total viewers with 7.6 million. Its Wednesday primetime slate grew across the board, starting with "The Middle" at 8 p.m. It returned from a month off with a 14 percent improvement, posting a 2.4/7. It also grabbed 8.4 million total viewers. "Neighbors" at 8:30 jumped 25 percent for a 2.0/6 and had 6.6 million total viewers, while "Modern Family" at 9 was the night's top-rated and most-watched show, climbing 12 percent in the demo for a 4.7/12 and drawing 12 million total viewers. "Suburgatory" at 9:30 jumped 23 percent for a 2.7/7 with 7 million total viewers, while "Nashville" at 10 inched up to a 2.0/6 and had 5.8 million total viewers.
CBS drew second place in ratings and first in total viewers with a 2.4/6 and 9 million. Following the reality special "I Get That a Lot" at 8, which dropped 13 percent from last year's airing for a 2.0/6 and took 7.8 million total viewers, "People's Choice Awards" at 9 posted a 2.6/7 — up marginally from last year's airing — and drew 9.6 million total viewers.
NBC, which came in third in ratings and total viewers with a 1.9/5 and 6.8 million, suffered hits across the board, especially with its comedies. "Whitney" at 8 dropped 22 percent from last week for a 1.4/4 and had 4.2 million total viewers, while "Guys With Kids" at 8:30 fell 24 percent to a 1.3/4 and drew 4 million total viewers. "Law & Order: SVU" dipped to a 2.1/5 and attracted 8.3 million total viewers — a season high in total viewers — while "Chicago Fire" also inched down from last week, posting a 2.2/6 with 8 million total viewers.
Univision came in fourth in ratings and total viewers with a 1.8/5 and 4.2 million.
Fox, which took fifth place in ratings and total viewers with a 1.3/4 and 3.4 million, aired the special "Stars in Danger" throughout primetime.
