Posted on 05/17/2013 2:10:35 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
The bad dream of a season for Fox’s “American Idol” ended Thursday with a ratings nightmare, as the singing competition lost a staggering 7 million viewers from last season’s finale.
Thursday’s finale, in which Candice Glover won the coveted prize, averaged 14.3 million viewers, according to overnight ratings.
That’s down a third from more than 21 million last year — and the news gets worse.
Two years ago the finale had more than 29 million viewers, meaning “Idol” has shed half its audience in two years.
And from Fox’s viewpoint, that’s not even the worst number. Thursday’s share of the 18- to 49-year-old viewers most coveted by advertisers went into free-fall, dropping 44% from last year.
Fox Entertainment President Kevin Reilly, speaking earlier this week before the network’s annual “upfront” presentation of its fall schedule to advertisers, said the producers will go to work “Friday morning” to consider ways to stem the audience exodus.
Original judge Randy Jackson has already said he will not return next year, a decision Reilly said was “mutual, with absolutely no hard feelings on either side.”
Judge Nicki Minaj was reported leaving at midweek, and it is widely expected remaining judges Mariah Carey and Keith Urban will also depart.
Reilly said it is “likely” the show will revert to a three-judge panel next year.
But he also said he thought the audience erosion was tied less to the judges than to the format. He said the “boy/girl” episodes in midseason were not well watched, suggesting there will be some changes next year.
At its peak in 2006, the “Idol” finale drew more than 36 million viewers, and for years the finales drew more than 30 million, making it the most popular non-sports broadcast TV show of the 21st century.
(Excerpt) Read more at nydailynews.com ...
“’American Idol’ loses 7 million viewers compared to last year’s finale”
Is that a bad thing or a good thing?
All good things must come to an end. 12 Seasons is enough, I have to say. They have one more season until they fold up.
A lot of people don’t like Randy, but I sure did. He was the only judge who went out of his way to help the contestants after their run on Idol. The dawg is cool in my book!
The talent pool is tapped out. You can’t find a Carrie Underwood every year.
“The Voice” is much better, and entertaining.
ping
None of the active musicians I really enjoy - John Hiatt, Lucinda Williams, Joe Jackson, Eleni Mandell, Iris Dement, Mark Knopfler, the Decemberists - to name just a few, would stand a chance with the taste-deprived "Idol" judges and audiences.
Yep. MTV has been tMzTV for a generation now.
And the big "concert festivals" now sell out before a single name has been announced (making it about the PAR-tay rather than the talent pool).
Celebritards have now taken to going "among the masses" at the festivals (of course with high roller passes and VIP tent access) to see and more importantly "be seen".
How to Ruin a Perfectly Good Music Festival: Actors
If people are so blase about their entertainment and vacation choices, no wonder they don't give a crapweasel about their elected leadership.
Sounds like The Cake (NOT Cake) have come into this pandora mix.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.