“Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” blew away its fall competition with the biggest network drama debut in four years.

The ABC show earned a 4.6/14 in the key 18-49 demo, with 11.9 million total viewers. The previous night, NBC’s “The Blacklist” scored the biggest network debut in a year with a 3.8 rating and 12.6 million total viewers.

The hype — and an “Avengers” connection — paid off big for “S.H.I.E.L.D.” The ratings were welcome news for ABC, which is in fourth place in the key demo.

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From the earliest numbers Wednesday, it was apparent that “S.H.I.E.L.D.” might not do as well as “The Blacklist” in total viewers. And indeed “The Blacklist” did draw more total audience. But in the end, “S.H.I.E.L.D.’ trounced the strong ratings of the NBC spy drama in the demo that matters most to advertisers.

NBC was first in ratings with a 4.0 rating/11 share in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demographic and second in total viewers with an average of 12.5 million, according to preliminary numbers.

“The Voice” Tuesday premiere at 8 p.m. earned a 4.6/13 — tying it for highest-rated program of the night with “S.H.I.E.L.D.” — and 14.1 million viewers. The “Chicago Fire” premiere at 10 certainly benefitted from its lead-in, earning a 2.8/8 — up 47 percent from last year — and 9.3 million viewers.

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CBS and ABC tied for second in ratings, each with a 2.9/8. CBS was first in total viewers with 16 million. ABC was third in viewers with 8.1 million.

For CBS, the “NCIS” premiere at 8 earned a 3.4/10 — its lowest-rated premiere in six years — but 19.5 million viewers, making it the most-watched program of the night. At 9, “NCIS: LA” premiered to a 3.0/8 and 16.2 million viewers. The “Person of Interest” premiere at 10 earned a 2.3/6 — the series low — and 12.3 million viewers.

For ABC, the debut of “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” at 8 earned the aforementioned 4.6/14 — tying for highest-rated show of the night — and 11.9 million viewers. The debut of “The Goldbergs” at 9 earned a 3.2/9 and 9.1 million viewers. At 9:30, “Trophy Wife” debuted to a 2.3/6 and 6.6 million viewers. At 10, the debut of “Lucky 7” earned a 1.3/4 — the lowest-rated fall drama premiere in network history — and 4.6 million viewers.

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Fox was fourth in ratings with a 1.7/5 and in total viewers with 3.7 million. “Dads” at 8 earned a 1.5/5 and 3.7 million viewers. At 8:30, “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” received a 1.8/5 and 4 million viewers. At 9, “New Girl” earned a 2.1/6 and 4.1 million viewers. “The Mindy Project” at 9:30 got a 1.5/4 and 3 million viewers.

Univision was in fifth in ratings with a 1.2/3 and in viewers with 3.1 million.

Telemundo was sixth in ratings with a 0.5/1 and total viewers with 1.2 million.

The CW was seventh in ratings with a 0.4/1 and in total viewers, with 1 million. “Whose Line Is it Anyway” at 8 earned a 0.5/1 and 1.4 million viewers. Following a rerun, “Capture” at 9 received a 0.2/1 and 721,000 viewers.