Media Buyer + Planner: Facebook Friends eSports; Passing on Idol

Fox grabbed ratings honors Wednesday, with an episode of Empire working on its behalf. Fox had a 1.5 rating in viewers 18-49, per the Nielsen overnights, and a 6 share. Empire did a flat 2.1, after Shots Fired scored a flat 0.8.

ABC was next at 1.2/5. The Goldbergs grew 8% to a 1.4 and Speechless went up 20% to 1.2, then Modern Family climbed 13% to 1.7 and the premiere of Downward Dog did a 1.1. Designated Survivor had a 1.1 too, up a tenth.

NBC had a 1.1/4. The season finale of Blindspot did a flat 0.8, then Law & Order: SVU grew 9% to 1.2 and the season closer of Chicago P.D. climbed 8% to 1.3.

CBS did a 1.0/4. Survivor had a flat 1.7 and two hours of Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders did a 0.7, down a tenth of a point from last week.

The CW was at 0.4/1, with Arrow at 0.5, down a tenth of a point, and The 100 at a flat 0.3.

Among Spanish-language networks, Univision did a 0.6/2 and Telemundo a 0.4/2.

LINDSAY PATTISON has been given the additional position of chief transformation officer at WPP's media agency division GroupM. In addition to her duties in the newly created post, Pattison will continue in her role as CEO of GroupM agency Maxus. A MediaPost report says Pattison will oversee GroupM efforts to better work with sibling agencies as part of a "horizontality" strategy. She will also oversee talent and leadership development, culture and diversity within GroupM. She has held the Maxus CEO post since 2014. Prior to that she was global chief strategy officer and UK CEO for Maxus. She has also held executive roles at Y&R, PHD Media and Sony Ericsson.
LORI SENECAL is leaving her post as global CEO of Crispin Porter + Bogusky at the end of this year. The MDC Partners' agency will be interviewing for a successor. Ad Age reports that when Senecal joined CP+B in 2015, her length of stay was discussed. Senecal previously served as global executive chairman of MDC Partners' agency Kirschenbaum Bond Senecal and prior to that was president and CEO of KBS. Also at CP+B, DANIELLE ALDRICH was promoted to president of the agency's Boulder office and its Los Angeles office. She was previously managing director in Boulder.
CHRIS ROSS was named chief operating officer of Grey New York, and JANE REISS was appointed chief brand experience officer, both new positions at the agency. Ross will be responsible to the daily operations at the agency, while Reiss will lead the Brand Experience Group. Ross has been with Grey since 2009 and most recently was executive VP and managing director on several brand accounts. Reiss joined Grey in 2013 and was instrumental in the agency's winning of the Hasbro account.

CYNTHIA KUKER was appointed VP, senior creative director, and DANIEL MACENA was named VP, creative director at the Jack Morton New York. Kuker was previously a marketing consultant, while Macena was most recently creative director for McCann HumanCare.