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Ratings Struggle Continues for ‘American Idol’ as Wednesday’s Show Hits a 10-Year Low

Feb 28, 2013  •  Post A Comment

Fox’s flagship singing competition “American Idol” continued to suffer viewer erosion Wednesday night, based on Nielsen overnights. But the network still easily beat its broadcast competition.

TVbytheNumbers.com reports that Fox coasted to a comfortable win in the key 18-49 demo despite “Idol’s” 3.8 average rating — the show’s lowest number in the demo for a Wednesday night installment since July 3, 2003. The show’s average of 13.15 million total viewers was reportedly its lowest since Aug. 14, 2002.

Fox still came in well ahead of the competition, with its 3.8 average rating in viewers 18-49 for prime time overall outdistancing CBS (2.4 average), ABC (2.2), Univision (1.7) and NBC (1.6). Things were a little tighter in total viewers, but Fox led the way with 13.15 million to CBS’s 9.8 million, ABC’s 6.9 million, NBC’s 5.2 million and Univision’s 4.0 million.

Second-place CBS had mixed results, with the headline being a series low for “CSI.” Its 1.8 average in 18-49 was way down from last week’s 2.3. Meanwhile, “Survivor: Caramoan” ticked up two-tenths to a 2.6, while “Criminal Minds” held steady and also produced a 2.6.

ABC’s “Modern Family” was the top-rated show of the night in the 18-49 demo — just ahead of “Idol” — with a 3.9 average, slipping one-tenth from a week ago. “Nashville” fell to a series low with a 1.6, off two-tenths from its previous original episode. “The Middle” (2.1 average) and “The Neighbors” (1.7) both fell two-tenths from last week, but “Suburgatory” broke the trend by climbing three-tenths to a 2.3.

NBC’s best performance came from “Chicago Fire,” which won the 10 p.m. hour with a 1.9 in viewers 18-49 — even with a week ago. “Law & Order: SVU” also held steady, delivering a 1.6, while “Whitney” rose one-tenth to a 1.2. “Guys With Kids” rebounded a bit from last week’s series low, adding one-tenth to average a 1.1.

2 Comments

  1. Do I hear a cheap ploy for ratings coming? How about another fight? Someone going to rehab? How about a book deal? Anything to keep Idol in the news. I see more shameless promotion of the judges or contestants coming. Seems that shows with low (and ultra-high too) numbers try all cheap ploys. Whether it’s Idol or GMA. I’m sick of seeing ad hear about these 2 shows in particular.

  2. It is not surprising giving the nonsense with nick!

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