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    "American Idol" debut hits sour note

    Reuters – Thu, 19 Jan, 2012
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    LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The audience for "American Idol" dropped by some 18 percent to 21.6 million viewers when the TV singing contest returned for its 11th season, according to early ratings figures on Thursday.

    The drop was even bigger -- about 27 percent -- among viewers 18 to 49-year-olds, the audience group most coveted by advertisers, Nielsen figures showed.

    But despite the fall-off, which Fox television executives said they had expected, the two-hour "American Idol" season premiere was still the most-watched show by a huge margin on U.S. television Wednesday night.

    The 21.6 million viewers on Wednesday, compared to 26.2 million who watched the 2011 season premiere when new judges Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez made their first appearance.

    Fox television chairman Kevin Reilly said last week that the network was expecting the audience for "American Idol" to be down this season because of the show's age.

    But media watchers say "Idol" -- the most-watched show on U.S. television for seven years -- faces the stiffest competition ever in 2012 from rival singing contests "The Voice" on NBC, and the debut season of "The X Factor" on Fox, which ended just one month ago.

    (Reporting By Jill Serjeant; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)

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    105 comments

    • Susie Q
      Susie Q  •  Chicago, United States  •  18 days ago
      THe Voice is the best singing show!! Love it!
    • Stacie
      Stacie  •  Maple Grove, United States  •  1 month 7 days ago
      Maybe they will figure out that we're getting bored with the same old same old. How many talent shows do we need???
    • michael
      michael  •  Pompano Beach, United States  •  1 month 7 days ago
      I'm a viewer. Forgot it was on. Didn't really care it was on. I'm sure i'm not alone.
    • rahuls
      rahuls  •  Stamford, United States  •  1 month 7 days ago
      David Cook, Kris Allen, Lee Dewyze, Scotty McCreery. Notice something? Diversify the show a little bit, and it will be a lot better. X Factor (although it failed in viewership) was good in that the contestants were very diverse with: R&B Melanie, Rap/Soul Chris, Rock Josh, Rap Astro, and even Pop Rachel. The diversity helped to freshen up this genre of television, and if Idol can do that then they will become a well respected and fun show, again.
    • james
      james  •  College Station, United States  •  1 month 7 days ago
      How does a show that is not airing now compete with a show that is now airing? Am I missing something here?
    • beth
      beth  •  Indianapolis, United States  •  1 month 6 days ago
      American Idol Debut Hits a Sour Note!! Newsflash.. it IS SOUR!
    • RCPH
      RCPH  •  1 month 6 days ago
      No Simon? No Paula? No watch.
    • golf rat
      golf rat  •  1 month 6 days ago
      The Voice will rule!
    • memyselfandi
      memyselfandi  •  Yucca, United States  •  1 month 6 days ago
      Ryan is irratating as hell with his snide remarks and lack of empathy. Then you have J Lo, makes me nauseous, and winners like Scotty McCreepy and I am done.
    • Mind your own business!
      Mind your own business!  •  Boca Raton, United States  •  1 month 6 days ago
      If WSVN Miami, the local FOX affiliate would settle their dispute with DirectTV, maybe then you would have some more views. WSVN, Channel 7 in the Miami/Fort Lauderdale market has been blacked out for over a week. FU WSVN
    • Kaniff
      Kaniff  •  Eyebrow, Saskatchewan  •  1 month 7 days ago
      'Reality' tv is NOT reality when people KNOW there is a camera nearby. I don't get why this is so hard to realize.
    • kk
      kk  •  Newark, United States  •  1 month 7 days ago
      Yeah, this will be the first season that I don't watch....I had to force myself to see last season through...then I thought to myself, "why am I watching this drivel?" So done.
    • JESSE
      JESSE  •  1 month 5 days ago
      another loooong season of no talents, especially the screamers-caterwallers on the female side along with the hard pressed male counterparts to try and do the same. i call this program american idle....also, randy is the only qualified judge. sorry, but j-lo is a crybaby and steven is on planet x...neither one is professional. the network panders to the child crowqd. 18 to 49? huh? that's a giant leap for marketing. bobbysox to nylons. this show? is not on my watch list. feel sorry for t he millions who spend thier nights on the phone, texting.
    • booey
      booey  •  Manchester, United States  •  1 month 5 days ago
      steven tyler looks at all those female singer with there bra and undie on under there clothes how vile
    • Cathie
      Cathie  •  1 month 5 days ago
      The two hours and all the video of the contestants is too much. Way better when it was just people standing in line waiting to try out without cameras following certain people around for a week and videoing about them. Isn't this a little unfair to pick out certain people and do this while others are waiting in line? Keep it to an hour and you'll keep our attention. Give us a little background them AFTER they actually make it hollywood and show us more actual tryouts.
    • Evelyn
      Evelyn  •  Newhall, United States  •  1 month 6 days ago
      Randy is cool, but, the other judges are overexposed...by the time the Idol comes on, we are tired of their drama on and off the show... already stopped recording it!
    • LahDeeFrickinDah
      LahDeeFrickinDah  •  1 month 7 days ago
      This show is so boring now. I'm sure for a 5th season in a row there will once again be some cutesy white guitar-strumming male to win the show. Yawn! Diversify the genres and then maybe this show could have some spark again.
    • JADE
      JADE  •  Fallston, United States  •  1 month 7 days ago
      I wasn't real impressed with the show last night, I didn't hear any amazing singers, a few good but nothing wowed me at all. I know people hated Simon, but atleast he was honest. I saw alot go through that Simon would have said no to. I will bet you won't see most of them after the first round of singing. Get with it A.I. or this will be my last season watching.
    • B
      B  •  Walden, United States  •  1 month 6 days ago
      It's old hat anymore. We can only take so much of this crap. I am surprised there are still that many viewers
    • Mister Bigg
      Mister Bigg  •  1 month 7 days ago
      I stopped watching after Simon left.
     Post a comment
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