Posted on 04/18/2015 5:35:10 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
American Idol ratings hit a series low last week, dropping to a 1.4 in the desirable 18-49 demographic. Even when head to head competition with The Voice was no longer a threat (the rival show aired a special results show at 8 pm) the numbers stayed flat this week.
Once the highly rated FOX show, Empire left the Wednesday night lineup, the show began to falter. The Wrap notes, however, that Idol is still ahead of the final season of the cancelled X Factor.
Heading into this week the two regular editions of “Idol” were averaging a combined 2.9 rating in the key 18-49 demographic and 11.3 million total viewers, according to Nielsen’s most current ratings, which include Live Plus 7 Day numbers where available.
The final season of “The X Factor” in 2013-14 on its two regular nights combined to average a 2.2 in the demo and had 7.0 million viewers overall, which is fully L7. That means “Idol” is still 32 percent ahead of “X Factor” in the main demo. In total viewers, the percentage disparity is nearly twice that.
Currently, Idol is doing worse in the demo than the ill-fated Utopia, which averaged a 1.7 18-49 demo rating and 3.9 million total viewers. The Friday broadcast of the show had a predictably smaller 1.0 rating and 2.5 million viewers.
The Wrap points out that Idol is still doing OK compared to other FOX shows, with ratings that are still well above the fourth-place network’s season-to-date primetime average of a 2.0 demo rating with 6 million total viewers.
Also noted: American Idol still commands one of the higher ad rates on television. X Factor finished on that list at No. 62 while American Idol managed to make it into the Top 25.
FOX has been forced to cut expenses while ratings have declined. The show used to represent 55+ hours on the FOX schedule. Today, with the show currently running once a week, Idol has aired 31 hours. At this time last season the number was at 40.5.
Insiders have told The Wrap that cutting the summer tour from 10 contestants to 5 was a cost cutting measure due to low interest and poor ticket sales.
But Jason Morey of 19 Entertainment insists it was a creative decision. “While we are always conscious of costs, the reason for the change from 10 to 5 was to allow our top 5 more time to present their music and stories.” said Morey. “With 10 contestants, performance time was always an issue. We also want our top 5 to have the latitude to talk more about their experiences on the show and showcase their artistry.” Yeah…right.
The question now is: How long will the benefits of airing Idol outweigh the expenses of continuing to produce the show? For instance, Idol lost Coca Cola as a sponsor this year (and AT&T the year before). What if Ford decides to leave the fold?
Nevertheless, according to insiders, Idol is safe from cancellation at the moment. Negotiations for the future of the show are ongoing. Sources say a Season 15 renewal feels more like a formality at this point.
Via The Wrap
You mean it’s still on?
Thanks for the question. I know the answer now. :)
I used to watch American Idol. Simon was fun. The contestants were mostly OK if only occasionally noteworthy. The song choices were also generally OK.
No more. None of those favorable factors are still there. American Idol is not worth watching. So I’m not surprised by the rating drop.
But the The Voice is a pretty good show particularly the way I watch it: ON YOUTUBE. Watch the whole show (just the singers you like and only the singing) in maybe 20 minutes for a two hour show.
And I would like to HIGHLY RECOMMEND La Voix, the French Canadian version of The Voice. Excellent singers. Excellent song choices and, as an added bonus, Isabelle Boulay as one of the four pretty competent mentors.
Do a YouTube search - you’ll find it. Last years winner, Yoan, is a certain future country star. Young, full of deserved confidence, great voice, the whole enchilada. Play his blind audition and you will see what I mean.
I loved the show from Season 3 when I started to about Season 8 and have not watched since. There were some fun and exciting times with American Idol but it has done its time. Time to put it to bed. It certainly had a good run 15 years is unusual for a show. The Voice I just never got into except occasional watching the turning of the chairs but The Voice will never have the popularity that American Idol had nor will it have the successes that the contestants have had.
When they started homofying it a few years ago they lost a lot of their viewers. The list of gay contestants is pretty long...Not that being gay hinders or has anything to do with talent but when its used as a platorm for pushing the gay agenda it makes you want to turn the channel...
I have not watched one episode of ‘murkican eye dull
The Voice 2015 Sawyer Fredericks - Top 12: “Imagine"
The Voice 2015 Kimberly Nichole - Top 12: “House of the Rising Sun"
And, high recommended for Lady Freepers everywhere:
Just rename it ‘African-American Idol’ or ‘Idolizing African-Americans’. The Kardashians (including Kris Jenner) would approve.
They might as well since it is not doing well anymore. I think the Judges are ok. But I guess it is nearing time. I do know they have produced some talent. But after say about 2007, not many of the finalists and winners have become super megastars.
So like The Voice it is a joke to keep pimping and pumping out talent that is going nowhere and you don’t hear about after the next cycle.
Thanks. I enjoyed them all. Great job to them.
It is growing long in the tooth and the talent level is far below The Voice.
I call it the J-Lo show. It’s all about her. She loves herself, what she wears and how she does her hair. The judges drone on and on and on. It’s just boring. Then J-Lo gets up and performs (she can’t sing anyway) in some hideous outfit made for a 20 year old and the kids can’t even watch it’s so nasty. The Voice is really good. Humble judges that don’t talk too much or try to show off and there performances are family friendly and not offensive to watch.
their
We could only hope.
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