‘American Idol’ Draws 17% Fewer Viewers in Season Premiere
January 20, 2012, 7:54 AM ESTBy Andy Fixmer
(Updates with Fox forecast in third paragraph.)
Jan. 19 (Bloomberg) -- “American Idol,” the most-watched series on U.S. television, drew 17 percent fewer viewers to the debut of the 11th season last night.
“Idol” attracted 21.9 million viewers, News Corp.’s Fox network said today in an e-mailed statement, citing Nielsen data. The show’s 18-to-49-year-old audience, a group targeted by advertisers, slid 24 percent from the year-earlier premiere.
The show started last season with fewer viewers, only to average a bigger audience by the May finale as fans warmed to Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez joining Randy Jackson as judges. After 10 seasons, “Idol” will average about 10 percent fewer viewers this season, Kevin Reilly, the network’s entertainment president, told TV critics on Jan. 8.
News Corp. climbed 1.4 percent to $19.54 at 1:35 p.m. in New York trading. The Class A shares gained 23 percent last year.
--Editors: Rob Golum, Cecile Daurat
To contact the reporter on this story: Andy Fixmer in Los Angeles at afixmer@bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Anthony Palazzo at apalazzo@bloomberg.net
