From Mediaweek:
The following results are based on the fast affiliate ratings (Live Plus Same Day data)
-Total Viewers:
Fox: 25.52 million, NBC: 7.16, CBS: 6.12, ABC: 5.26, CW: 2.36-Adults 18-49:
Fox: 10.1 rating/24 share, NBC: 2.8/ 7, CBS: 1.5/ 4, ABC: 1.4/ 3, CW: 1.0/ 2Led by American Idol, and opposite a schedule populated with Super Tuesday Election Coverage, dominant Fox beat the four networks combined by 5.43 million viewers and 51 percent among adults 18-49. American Idol opened the evening with 27.79 million viewers and an 11.2 rating/28 share among adults 18-49 at 8 p.m., followed by House at a very compatible 23.24 million viewers and a 9.0/21 in the demo at 9 p.m.
However, Idol continues to slip compared to Season 6:
American Idol opened the evening with a 16.2 rating/24 share at 8 p.m. (16 percent below the year-ago overnight results: 19.3/28 on Feb. 6, 2007).
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Well, it wouldn’t be fair to compare this ratings with last year’s simply because SUPER TUESDAY is an important day for a lot of folks. It would be best to compare the ratings yesterday with the Idol ratings 4 years ago when there was also another Super Tuesday.
I bet this year’s ratings beat the ratings 4 years ago on the Super Tuesday then.
Oh but yesterday was unique, politically speaking, LBB. No incumbent or incumbent VP in the race and an unprecedented nearly national primary - not to mention a woman, a black and a Mormon candidate. Nothing like four years ago.
But I didn’t expect Super Tuesday to take Idol out at all. Of the major networks, only ABC was on opposite AI.
I wouldn’t worry about the ratings just yet. Let the games begin ne, and we’ll see how the ratings go.
If I’m reading the ratings right Idol lost 30% of its audience from Season 5 because S6 was 16% lower than Season 5. While I’m a political junkie, Super Tuesday was very complicated and the results didn’t become clear until this morning, so I wouldn’t say it was compelling television.
I’m not sounding the alarm but it’s obvious the show is on a serious ratings decline. The ratings are down 15-20% this year with absolutely no competition. Season 5 completed against the Winter Olympics and the Grammys and beat both decisively. Then Season 6 the other networks gave up and didn’t program anything major against the show.
I think its lost the excitement that made you feel you were watching something important. I’d say it’s a combination of the format getting tired and two back to back winners that have not measured up to Idol standards. I hope they do something this year to shake up the format although as Nigel says they could lose half their ratings and still be #1. So maybe they’re happy with what they have.
Well, everyone jumped on Chris Daughtry when he said Idol was in decline, but numbers don’t lie. Double-digit ratings drop, no matter how you parse it. At this rate, if they can keep it a single-digit drop by the end of the season, it’ll be a tremendous comeback “victory”.
AI needs to produce superstars. If it doesn’t it becomes just another talent/reality show that doesn’t deliver the goods.
I do not think providing a super star is its downfall maybe making an exciting show to watch is better which includes have interesting and a variety of contestants..
Fantasia and Rueban were not really what you called superstars even if they sold 1 millon off the bat because it did not continue. The show survived .
Three became known as because of AI but they also as worked hard to get some credit despite it to become superstars..
IMO of course maybe it is all the factors combines but the superstar level is really out thier for expectations. They were extremely lucky .Sort of like another team going 19-0
Fuller follows his convictions
Visionary Award
The Producers Guild is honoring Simon Fuller with its Visionary Award, but why stop there?…
No success of Fuller’s has been more remarkable than that of the global “Idol” franchise. He responds thoughtfully to the question of how long the series can run.
“It’s an unprecedented area we’re in,” he observes. “Personally, I’ve always seen ‘Idol’ as more than just an entertainment show, more than just a variety show. It’s a bit of a soap opera, and soap operas tend to go on for decades. … The other element is it’s competition, and competitions tend to go on forever, (like) the Super Bowl.
“Worst case, I expect us to go for at least another 10 years. I’d be disappointed if we didn’t. In time, I think we can be one of the longer-running shows in history.”
Variety
photos from the event:
Wire Image
I am a faithful Idol watcher from day one, Season One. I am finding, starting last year, that I am getting sort of bored with the whole thing. Now, I know I may change my tune entirely if this becomes a good season with diversified talent. But I find the routine of it is just getting sort of old.
I have long since thrown away the notion that who wins is of importance. (Who comes in second went out the window the first year it was on). I don’t know if that has taken some of the steam out of the show for me, or the obvious staging of so many aspects of it now, or what…. Just not sure.
Anyway. I think Simon Fuller is pipe dreaming over its becoming one of the “longer-running shows in history.” My crystal ball is a bit cloudy, but, right now, it is showing nothing of the sort.
I have been a big fan of the show as well, and I still enjoy it, but I must too admit that the excitement has worn of a bit for me too. That being said I still watch it with my kids ages 9-20 and I record it for my 26 year old son. I think the novelty has worn off. The post mortem however is still a bit premature.
Frankly I am glad the audition shows aren’t getting greater ratings because I always hated that it was those shows that really irritate me alot of the time that garnered the most ratings. If Hollywood week bring an explosion of talent things could change. I mean if done correctly Hollywood week should be a better set up for the direct competition. The haven’t always done in well focusing on and forcing conflict instead of highlighting talent. Frankly seeing the performers with instruments is making me excited, the auditions show have started to bore me. Last year they were too brutal, and this year they were to saccharine. It was almost unnaturally so, no so much Paula and Randy, but Simon was just either bored, or too nice. I expect that to change a bit as well. And considering that this show is in cycle 7, and I expect it to last about at least two more years, it would be in this era one of the longer running shows in quite some time. I mean it’s no Gunsmoke, but in this era that isn’t possible with so much to offer on cable etc.
Yes instruments will make it different but I fear starting last season AI producers really want the next Kelly C,rocker chick or guy and a pop singer guy. I think Idol lost thier focus awhile ago.
That is what the show was about the next Idol(by the public)competition and to provide entertainment. Some will make it very bigin pop while others goto diferent venues. The producers lost this viewpoint long ago, thier egos got in the way and this probably cause the slight downfall. It moved from the contestants to focus on the judges and the producers. Whom they want eventhough thiers room for others. Like some stated here maybe give a big money prize to the winner..Idol has boatloads it is an international company and will create competetion.
Agree or not it is just an observation the show is not in trouble just always has a stigma attached to it.
I, too, have become somewhat bored with AI. I will watch this season, and hope to see some great new talent; but I was one of those who chose politics over Idol last Tuesday. :)