The tenth season premiere of AMERICAN IDOL posted a 9.7 among Adults 18-49 last night, down an expected -18% versus last year’s debut on Tuesday, 1/12/10 (11.8/29) but up +18% from its Wednesday finale last season. Key highlights:
AMERICAN IDOL showed growth in every half hour gaining +22% in its last half hour versus its first (8.5 > 9.8 > 10.2 > 10.4).
This is the highest-rated telecast of IDOL since 2/9/10 in the adult demo and Total Viewers.
AMERICAN IDOL beat the season’s previous highest rated entertainment telecast by +64% in Adults 18-49 (9.7 vs. 5.9, GLEE, 9/28/10).
Overall, FOX posted the highest rated night with entertainment programming on any network so far this season and beat the combined 4-net competition by +47% among Adults 18-49 (9.7 vs. 6.6 for ABC/CBS/NBC/CW), +57% among Adults 18-34 (8.0 vs. 5.1), +131% in Teens (7.4 vs. 3.2) and +10% in Total Viewers (26.2 vs. 23.9 Mil.).
In addition, FOX outperformed the next highest rated network for the night by +259% among Adults 18-49 (9.7 vs. 2.7 for ABC), +264% among Adults 18-34 (8.0 vs. 2.2 for ABC), +429% among Teens (7.4 vs. 1.4 for ABC) and +165% in Total Viewers (26.2 vs. 9.9 for CBS).
FOX won the night in Adults 18-49, Total Viewers, Adults 18-34, Adults 25-54, Teens and all key demos.
Competition
ABC aired The Middle (2.7/8), Better With You (2.2/6), Modern Family (4.6/12), Cougar Town (2.5/6, lowest this season) and Off the Map (2.1/6).
CBS ran Live to Dance (1.0/3, lowest ever), Criminal Minds (2.8/7, lowest ever), and the time period premiere of Blue Bloods (2.0/6).
NBC aired Minute to Win It (1.6/4), the time period premiere of Chase (1.0/3, lowest ever), and Law & Order: SVU (2.3/6).
Live+Same Day Nielsen Ratings (Note: FOX numbers are based on adjusted Fast National data from Nielsen. Demo shares are not available)
(source: FOX)
