Logo

‘Idol’ Premiere Outperforms Other Big Nets Combined

Jan 19, 2005  •  Post A Comment

Fox’s “American Idol” returned to the network’s schedule Tuesday with gains from last season’s premiere among adults 18 to 49, adults 18 to 34 and total viewers, in addition to outperforming ABC, CBS, NBC, The WB and UPN combined in adults 18 to 49.

The two-hour premiere scored a 14.0 rating in adults 18 to 49, according to Nielsen Media Research’s preliminary national ratings, a 9 percent increase over “Idol’s” Jan. 19 season premiere in 2004. “Idol” was also up 4 percent in adults 18 to 34 (14.3 versus 13.7), up 16 percent among total viewers (33.5 million versus 29 million) and up 7 percent among teens (14.6 versus 13.6).

“Idol” also won Fox the distinction of outperforming the other five major networks combined on a total prime-time basis by 19 percent among adults 18 to 49 (14.0 versus the five networks’ combined 11.8).

Fox won the night in all the major male and female demos, adults 18 to 49 and total viewers. “Idol” was Fox’s most-watched program, including sports, of the current season in adults 18 to 49 and the network’s third-most-watched night of entertainment programming ever, behind the “Joe Millionaire” finale and “Idol’s” own second-season finale.