American Idol in ratings decline
So Simon is moving on to “X Factor,” Ellen is starting a record label, and the “American Idol” ratings are down significantly. Some called it a particularly bland season. Many are disenchanted with the system, claiming the voting method is a mess, that multiple callers essentially stuffing the ballot box have skewed the results.
While it’s still a huge force in television and a major source of revenue and promotional platform for Fox, executives there have to be worried about the future.
To be honest, I dipped in and out of “Idol” this season, lacking enthusiasm for the personalities and voices. And I wasn’t alone. While 24 million is still a huge audience in network TV, it paled next to what “Idol” had been scoring.
This year’s finale was the lowest rated in the show’s nine-year history (in the 18-49-year-old demo that advertisers target).
This list from TVbytheNumbers lays out the figures:
9/4/2002 American Idol 10.8 rating 23.02 million viewers
5/21/2003 American Idol 16.8, 38.06
5/26/2004 American Idol 12.0, 28.84
5/25/2005 American Idol 12.5, 30.27
5/24/2006 American Idol 14.2, 36.38
5/23/2007 American Idol 11.5, 30.76
5/21/2008 American Idol 11.4, 31.688
5/20/2009 American Idol 10.0, 28.86
5/26/2010 American Idol 8.2, 24.2