As “America’s Got Talent” crowned the winner of its eighth season Wednesday night, the series danced its way to a slight ratings boost over last year, according to early numbers from Nielsen.

“Talent” brought in an average of 11.3-million viewers, up 7% in total audience from last year’s finale, and scored a rating of 2.5 in the advertiser-desired 18-to-49-year-old demographic, up about 4% from the previous year’s number.

The show’s winner, who gets a $1-million prize and a headlining show in Las Vegas, was dance artist Kenichi Ebina, whose martial arts- and illusion-infused routines have wowed the judges the entire season.

PHOTOS: Cable versus broadcast ratings


CBS won the night in the key demo with a reality-dominated lineup that included the finale of a controversial season of “Big Brother” and the debut of yet another “Survivor.”

The network generated a rating of 2.5 among 18-to-49-year-olds, but that’s not to say the series performed particularly well compared with past years.

Closing out its 15th season, “Big Brother” drew 6.73-million viewers and a rating of 2.4 in the 18-to-49 demographic. That made it the show’s lowest-rated finale since April 2008.

PHOTOS: Hollywood Backlot moments


“Survivor,” the granddaddy of reality shows, was down significantly compared with its premiere last September, for its lowest-rated fall debut ever. “Survivor: Blood vs. Water” drew a total audience of 9.52 million, and got a 2.6 in the key demographic, down 19% from last year’s opener.

However, it was up about 6% from last spring’s premiere in total viewership and up 8% in the demo.

On Fox, Simon Cowell’s “The X Factor” held steady with last week’s low premiere. The singing competition brought in 6.6 million viewers, 2% more than the kickoff, and a 2.2 in among 18-to-49ers, flat with last Wednesday.

ABC showed all reruns.


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ryan.faughnder@latimes.com