Another week, another stunning Nielsen performance from Empire: Fox’s red-hot hip-hop soap opera drew its biggest audience yet Wednesday, marking four consecutive weeks of ratings growth. 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, with Empire 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.Â