Jan 16, 2008 3:19 pm US/Mountain
'Idol' Ratings Down From Last Year
LOS ANGELES (AP) ―
Fox's "American Idol" returned as the nation's most popular TV
series, but with 4 million fewer viewers than the 2007 season premiere.
Tuesday's debut was seen by an estimated 33.2 million viewers, down
11 percent from the 37.4 million who watched the first show, according
to preliminary ratings by Nielsen Media Research.
That still ranks as the most-watched show of the TV season,
excluding sports. The previous high was the 25.4 million who saw the
season premiere of "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" on CBS in the fall.
More people were watching Fox in those two hours than the combined
audience for ABC, CBS, NBC and the CW.
It was a noticeably nicer "American Idol" after producers were
criticized last year for meanness during the audition rounds of the
talent contest.
Yet the ratings will be watched closely for signs of further
erosion. There was a very slight decline in viewership last season
compared to 2006.
(© 2008 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
