Ratings: 'X Factor' Performance Finale Wins the Night for Fox; Miss Universe Pageant Grows

The performance finale of Fox's "The X Factor" inched up in the ratings Wednesday night, pushing Fox to an overall win for the evening, while NBC enjoyed growth with both the "61st Annual Miss Universe Pageant" and "Chicago Fire," according to preliminary numbers.

"The X Factor," which filled Fox's primetime slate, ticked up four percent from last Wednesday for its finale, grabbing the night's top ratings with a 2.7 rating/8 share in the advertiser-preferred 18-49 demographic and pulling in 8.3 million total viewers, making Fox the top-rated and most-watched network of the evening.

NBC took second place in ratings and total viewers with a 1.8/5 and 6.3 million. The Miss Universe pageant at 8 p.m. climbed 13 percent from last year's ceremony, which aired in September. Monday's airing drew a 1.8/5 with 6.1 million total viewers. "Chicago Fire" at 10 jumped 36 percent, posting a 1.9/5 with 6.6 million total viewers.

ABC tied Univision for third place in ratings with a 1.5/4 and took fourth in total viewers with 5.2 million. (Univision drew fifth place in total viewers with 3.6 million.) ABC aired repeats except for the special "20/20: The Year With Katie Couric" at 10. It had a 1.6/5 and drew 5.4 million total viewers.

CBS came in fifth in ratings and third in total viewers with a 1.1/3 and 5.8 million. The network aired all repeats except for "Home for the Holidays 2012" -- which was up 13 percent in the demo from last year with a 0.9/3, and took 5 million total viewers. The one-hour special aired at 8.

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