This week’s preliminary Nielsen ratings
“Idol” averaged 25.6 million viewers and a 9.6 rating/27 share in the adults 18-49 demographic, according to preliminary data released Wednesday by Nielsen Media Research. It was the top show in both key ratings measures, though it was down compared with last week (26.5 million, 10.2/28).
Despite the hype surrounding this week’s Idol Gives Back charity fundraiser, Tuesday’s ratings were down 3% from last week, and down 10% from last year (28.6 million viewers and a 11.5/30 share).
“Idol” averaged 26.4 million viewers and a 10 rating/26 share in the adults 18-49 demographic, according to preliminary data released Thursday by Nielsen Media Research. It rose from 21.6 million viewers at 8 p.m. to a peak of 30.2 million at 9:30 p.m.
Wednesday’s Idol Gives Back overall ratings were down 9 % from last week’s results show (28.9 million viewers and a 11.2/28 share) and down 6 % from last year’s Top 6 results show (28.2 million viewers and a 11.6/28 share).
Vote Totals
The voting totals were up 47% this year (70 million) from last year’s Top 6 results total of 47.5 million. This year, viewers’ votes were matched 10 cents per call by News Corp–giving fans an incentive to vote more than usual. The voting window was 4 hours, twice as long as last year’s 2 hours.
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It appears to me that the surge in viewers at 9:30 were the fans that tuned in just to see who got voted off. Like me, they got a royal fooling.
I agree. I wanted to watch an American Idol competition, not a telethon. If they want to raise money, that is wonderful — but do it on a different night and don’t involve it with the current competition. They could have had the regular performances and eliminations on Tuesday and Wednesday as normal. They could’ve had “American Idol Gives Back” on a different night.
I can also attribute it to the attitude of INDIFFERENCE many feel this year compared to last year. A lot of those who felt invested in their idols last year ( e.g. THE SOUL PATROL ) don’t feel the same with this bunch this year.
The Sanjaya elimination episode saw more viewers than the Idol Gives Back cheesefest.
Good job, Idol.
This does not much surprise me. And those who tuned in may have been a bit disappointed, as I was. Not completely, but I had an overall negative feeling towards the way this show was done.
I agree about a separate night/program for Idol Gives Back. That said, the “votes” = money donated they got could not have been done in any other format.
If they do this type of program in the future, I would imagine there will be a feeling of fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice….well, you get the idea. I doubt seriously they could get people to vote for a non-elimination the next night in the future.
I think the low ratings were simply in reaction to what has proved to be a low-key, boring season of Idol.
I really wish they would have invested this level of effort in the songwriting contest and gotten that figured out first.
That would have given them time to figure out this telethon for next year. I’m not against the idea and I like the idea of the votes going to charity because everyone really CAN conribute–but this effort was rushed. Plus, they really should have had Bono perform. OR do it with previous Idols….
They raised a lot of money so they may very well do this again although I hope they change a few things. Next time they should plan it as a special non-elimination night up front.
I must say, I can’t help but wonder if it happened to be a different crew of contestants if the ratings for the give back special would have been higher. I really do think they would have. If they had tried this the last two years…
I can’t say I watched a lot of the telethon. I had it on, but as for watching, not so much. I actually figured the ratings MIGHT have been boosted this week due to the telethon, but guess not. I did eventually turn it off shortly after 9:30, but I don’t remember much of the actual telethon itself.
I wouldn’t necessarily MIND another Telethon next year, IF they had a better crew of contestants. I would have loved a telethon with Season 4 or 5. It would have been fantastic.
St.Lucia, you are so right about Season 4 & 5 with regard to being able to entice fans to watch the telethon. I am afraid that season 6 just isn’t in the same league as the finalists in S4 & S5. In fact I think they could have searched far and wide and not found a more boring group than this assembly. It is a bit ironic that Seattle, which Simon blasted as being no-talent, yielded the only two entertaining cast members. Remember Sanjaya? Remember Blake before they began molding him into what they consider proper Idol material? Can’t wait to see what happens Tuesday night with Bon Jovi!
Some of us find season 6 entertaining. I don’t think Idol gives Back would have been any better last season.
Most agree that Seasons 4 & 5 were the best in the diversity and quality of contestants, This has to be a major disappointed for AI. There have been so many fundrasiers for aid to Africa. What did get to me was the poverty that exists in America! And still seeing the suffering for those involved in Hurricane Katrina.
I am not saying there should never be any more fundraising, but wonder how this format could be revised and revisted?
One other thing… people are getting more wiser regarding the pimping for a contestant and Randy’s actions blew a hole into this season’s show. This is just my opinion. Bad move on his part!
Maybe the ratings were up due to the telethon. Maybe there would have been a much greater dip in ratings after Sanjaya left if they hadn’t had the telethon.
I wonder if Idol picked up any new viewers because of “IGB”? I guess we will find out next week.
Grammie Karl: What are you referring to, if’n you don’t mind my asking?
I caught some of the beginning because I remember Jack Black, but then I must have dozed off. Now that would never have happened last season!
Jessica Sierra arrested for felony battery, cocaine possession, and introduction of contraband into a correctional facility.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18385503/