Update: Final broadcast data confirms that this year’s “American Idol” finale was the lowest-rated and least-watched such episode on record.
It also suffered a very sharp year-over-year decline.
Wednesday’s conclusion, which named Nick Fradiani the fourteenth “Idol,” scored a 1.7 adults 18-49 rating with 8.03 million viewers.
The numbers trail those of last year’s finale (2.6, 10.53 million) by 35% and 24%, respectively.
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Down sharply from last year’s already softly rated “American Idol” finale, Wednesday’s episode was by far the lowest-rated conclusion yet.
Per fast national data, Wednesday’s season fourteen “American Idol” finale averaged a 1.6 adults 18-49 with total 7.74 million viewers from 8-10PM.
As they currently stand, the numbers trail those of last week’s finale (2.6, 10.53 million) by 38% and 26%, respectively.
On an hourly basis, this year’s finale drew a 1.4 with 6.94 million from 8-9PM (the timeslot’s #3 program in adults 18-49) and a 1.8 with 8.54 million from 9-10PM (#2).
While the fast national data only covers the 8-10PM portion, this year’s “Idol” finale actually ran until 10:06PM. Since the last six minutes almost certainly outdrew the episodic average, the rating will potentially receive an upward adjustment in the final report.
That adjustment will not change two cold realities: this year’s finale was the lowest-rated on record and down significantly from last year’s final episode.