'American Idol' TV rating drops in viewers

Viewership on America Idol this season has dropped 10 percent from last year and has the lowest rating of all its seasons in the 18-49 year old demographic since 2002 according to several online news sources. The contestants don’t seem as consistent, skilled and polished as contestant of the past and that could be affecting the rating.

Executives at FOX responded by stating: “the slide is not unusual for a 9-year-old program and add that in the 18-49 age group prized by advertisers, it is down just 8 per cent and still 72 per cent ahead of its nearest rival.” –REUTERS

The show is losing its fizzle with a small portion of its audience especially since Simon Cowell mentioned he is leaving the show. Most would agree that this years the contestants just don’t compare to the previous years contestants like Adam Lambert, Ruben Studdard, Carrie Underwood and Fantasia Barrino.

Interesting facts from www.headlineplanet.com

“In the final broadcast ratings, the “Idol” 18-49 demo figure climbed slightly higher to a 6.2; total viewership was at 17.50 million. Though better than the dangerously low fast national numbers (as reported below), the show’s performance is still alarming. With the show already bleeding viewers and popular judge Simon Cowell departing at the end of the season, things could get quite disappointing come next year’s tenth season.

Also interesting is the fact that “Glee” dominated “Idol” in women 18-34 (6.9 vs. 6.2); it also won a tight race among adults 18-34 (5.0 to 4.9).

The ongoing ratings decline for this year’s “American Idol” took a scary turn Tuesday, as the show came dangerously close to falling below a 6.0 adults 18-49 rating.

Off hours of 5.6 and 6.5, this week’s show was good for a 6.05 in the fast nationals. Viewership was also way down–the show that was once able to accurately brag about entertaining 30 million viewers an episode only attracted 17.08 million Tuesday.

Even a slight drop next week, which has been the trend this season, would bring the show below the 6.0 barrier and bring it into the realm of “normal” television shows
.

According to TVBN, the show hit its lowest performance show numbers for adults 18-49, adults 18-34, adults 25-54 and total viewers since season one, which aired as a summer special.

With a lower “Idol” lead-in and less pre-episode buzz, “Glee” dropped to a 4.9 rating with 11.89 million viewers.”