Kelly Clarkson | Trae Patton/NBC
Update: The preliminary ratings report was not misleading. Monday’s edition of “The Voice” indeed outperformed “American Idol” in the head-to-head battle.
According to fast national data posted by Showbuzz, NBC’s “The Voice” drew a 2.2 adults 18-49 rating and averaged 11.38 million overall viewers at 8PM. The numbers improved to 2.5 and 12.07 million, respectively, in the 9PM hour.
ABC’s “American Idol” posted a 1.7 adults 18-49 rating and 8.14 million in viewership at 8PM. Its numbers increased to 1.9 and 8.58 million at 9PM.
While solid by modern-day viewership standards, the early numbers for ABC’s “Idol” relaunch do not suggest a renewed interest in the series. The final few seasons on FOX actually drew stronger numbers for their early episodes (particularly in adults 18-49). And those numbers, it should be noted, were referenced as proof that interest in the “Idol” franchise had cooled.
NBC’s Monday lineup also included “Good Girls” (1.1, 4.74 million viewers at 10PM). ABC closed its night with “The Good Doctor” (1.8, 9.79 million viewers at 10PM).
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While it remains to be seen how the two programs fared in adults 18-49, early ratings data confirms that NBC’s “The Voice” drew a bigger household audience than ABC’s “American Idol” Monday night.
According to metered market posted by Programming Insider, Monday’s “The Voice” drew a 7.5 overnight household rating from 8-10PM. “Idol” scored a 5.6.
Adults 18-49 and overall viewership data will be released later Monday morning. Given the margin of the overnight victory and the shows’ typical skews, it is nonetheless fair to assume “The Voice” won in those columns as well (though perhaps not as dominantly).
Judged in the context of the overall television landscape, ratings for ABC’s first two “American Idol” airings are solid (Sunday’s episode drew a 6.3 in the overnight households, a 2.3 in adults 18-49 and 10.48 million in overall viewership).
Judged against the historical “American Idol” standard (even that for the fifteenth and final season on FOX), the ratings are underwhelming.
NBC’s Monday lineup also included “Good Girls” (3.1 household rating in the 10PM hour). ABC aired “The Good Doctor” at 10PM. In drawing a 6.4 overnight household rating, the freshman drama actually built on its “American Idol” audience.