Update: The fast nationals paint an even worse picture for the “Idol” premiere. The show dropped 26% in the key adults 18-49 demo.
Whether the cause was the aging of the “American Idol” franchise or the disillusionment and saturation caused by the introduction of shows like “The Voice” and “The X Factor,” ratings for the eleventh “Idol” season were projected to come in below those of the prior season.
Sure enough, “Idol” returned down. While the more-relevant performance in the adults 18-49 demo will not be revealed for a few hours, the overnight metered market number has emerged as a 13.6. That represents a 17% decline from the season ten opener, which drew a 16.4.
That 2011 opener, which was the lowest-rated one since the show’s premiere in 2002, was down by 11% from the 2010 kick-off. Given the strong reaction to last season, the fact that this year’s premiere suffered a steeper drop than that of last year suggests more than mere “age” was at play here.
Still, even down, the ratings were head-and-shoulders above those for shows like “Modern Family” and “Criminal Minds.”