TV ratings: CBS’ ‘Criminal Minds’ beats Fox’s ‘American Idol’

FBI agents scored a victory over wannabe pop stars in Wednesday night’s ratings, according to early numbers from Nielsen.

The CBS procedural drama “Criminal Minds” averaged 10.4-million viewers and a rating of 2.5 among the key 18-to-49-year-old audience, marking the first time the show has beaten Fox’s “American Idol” in the key demographic in their common hour.

The demo rating for Wednesday’s new episode of “Criminal Minds” was up 14% from its last original outing two weeks ago, while “Idol” fell slightly from last week to a 2.1. In 18-to-49, a ratings point equals about 1.3-million viewers.

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With relatively steady showings from “Survivor” and “CSI,” CBS was the night’s top broadcast network, with an average of 9.9-million viewers overall and an 18-to-49 ratings of 2.2, beating Fox by a tenth of a point. It should be noted, though, that “American Idol” tends to increase a bit in the final tallies.

ABC’s “Modern Family,” down 11% week-to-week to a 3.2, was still the No. 1 Wednesday show in the advertiser-desired age group. The network’s other shows all held even or rose this week, including “Nashville,” which jumped 15% to a 1.5.

On NBC, “Revolution” rose a tick to a 1.3, and Dick Wolf’s “Law & Order: SVU” and “Chicago P.D.” both posted double-digit percentage gains to a 1.7 and a 1.6, respectively.

CW’s “Arrow” fell 11% to a 0.8 and the new post-apocalyptic series “The 100” slipped again, this time by 14% to a 0.6 in 18-49.

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ryan.faughnder@latimes.com

Twitter: @rfaughnder

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