American Idol Ratings: Top 3 Up 12% From Last Year

FOX_Research FOX Research
by dizzyfeet
#IDOL up +12% vs last year’s Top 3 Results show in viewers (21.2m vs. 19.0m) and +2% in A18-49 (6.2/19 vs. 6.1/17) //

Don’t the ratings for results night steadily increase as the season gets closer to the end? Ie when it becomes top 4, top 3, then Finale and Results?

It is like when I do not watch as much baseball until the World Series or those who watch the Super Bowl but not the rest of the season. LOL. Many people will watch the last few episodes of a competition or sports show as it gets down to the wire…at least my friends are that way. They show lttle interest in Idol or any of these shows until near the Finale.

MayMirabella says:

05/20/2011 at 11:36 am

Don’t the ratings for results night steadily increase as the season gets closer to the end? Ie when it becomes top 4, top 3, then Finale and Results?

Well, that’s what I thought & posted in yesterday’s ratings report thread, but it looks like that’s not the case here. Up over last year, but down over last week. Hmmmm

Reading these makes me feel better. As does Nigel’s tweet about Jimmy playing him a song for Haley’s record.

She’s going to be fine.

ETA: Oops, obviously put this on the wrong thread. Sorry.

Don’t the ratings for results night steadily increase as the season gets closer to the end?

Not always.

I do think however James’ ouster might have affected the viewing figures a bit. The performance night viewing figure was boosted somewhat by the show being extended to 2 hours, so it is llikely that the ratings for the performance show would have also actually dropped if they hadn’t extended the show (by my calculation it would have been less than 22.6 million, compared to 23.05 the previous week).

I do think however James’ ouster might have affected the viewing figures a bit. The performance night viewing figure was boosted somewhat by the show being extended to 2 hours, so it is llikely that the ratings for the performance show would have actually dropped if they hadn’t extended the show (by my calculation it would have been less than 22.6 million, compared to 23.05 the previous week).

This is easy enough to check. The half hour breakdown for last week:

8:00 18-49 rating 6.0/19 19.705 million viewers

8:30 6.9/20 22.429 million viewers

9:00 7.7 20 24.963 million viewers

This week:

8:00 6.7/20 21.71 (Higher than last week at 8pm)

9:00 7.7/19 24.36

Based on the 8:00 figures, it doesn’t seem like there was a boycott because of James absence. Any boycotts would be seen in performance nights, and not in filler heavy result shows, where people are just interested in what happens during the last few minutes.

From TV By the Numbers:

American Idol scored a 6.2 adults 18-49 rating from 8-9p, that’s down 0.3 from last week’s final number and identical to last week’s preliminary number. Don’t be surprised if it is adjusted up two or three tenths in the finals

Based on the 8:00 figures,

But a drop at 9 compared to previous week. Given that the ratings normally keep going up until 10, we can assume that the drop is even bigger for the 9-9.30 segment. You can’t just take one bit out and claim that somehow that represents the whole show.

But a drop at 9 compared to previous week. Given that the ratings normally keep going up until 10, we can assume that the drop is even bigger for the 9-9.30 segment. You can’t just take one bit out and claim that somehow that represents the whole show.

We can’t assume that the drop is bigger or that there was a drop, because we know that this Wednesday’s show drew more people than last Wednesday’s, 23.56 million to 23 million, so looking at the numbers, I think it’s safe to say that the ratings went up between 9 to 10.

But, the part that you are leaving out is that the preliminary ratings for yesterday’s show are the same as the preliminary ratings for last Thursday’s show. We haven’s seen the final ratings yet, so in the end both shows might have posted the same figures, so it’s much too early to make claims about the ratings being down because James was gone.

Last night’s preliminary numbers from tvbythenumbers:

It was never in doubt that Fox would top the night in adults 18-49 and total viewers. American Idol scored a 6.2 adults 18-49 rating from 8-9p, that’s down 0.3 from last week’s final number and identical to last week’s preliminary number. Don’t be surprised if it is adjusted up two or three tenths in the finals.

8:00 FOX American Idol 6.2/19 21.19

We can’t assume that the drop is bigger or that there was a drop,

Of course we can. Even if we assume that the ratings for 9-9.30 is the same as 9.30-10.00, when you calculate the ratings for from 8 to 9.30 for this week, it will come out as lower than last week.

I’m confused. Aren’t we talking about numbers for last night’s show? Wasn’t last night’s show only from 8-8:55 p.m., so there should only be numbers for 8 and 8:30? What are those 9 and later numbers for?

I’m confused. Aren’t we talking about numbers for last night’s show? Wasn’t last night’s show only from 8-9, so there should only be numbers for 8 and 8:30? What are those 9 and later numbers for?

Hehe, don’t worry, we are just arguing about something that didn’t happen (i.e. what would happen if there the performance show hadn’t been extended to 2 hours). No one is right or wrong, unless someone can produce the half-hourly breakdown for final figures (come to think of it, I remember coming across a place that might have it, but can’t remember where now).

Of course we can. Even if we assume that the ratings for 9-9.30 is the same as 9.30-10.00, when you calculate the ratings for from 8 to 9.30 for this week, it will come out as lower than last week.

Actually, it would be the 8:30 to 9:00 numbers that would be lower, since we know that the 8 to 8:30 numbers for this week were higher. And given the final tally the numbers had to have gone up between 9:30 and 10.

Either way, the preliminary numbers being the same for both Thursdays and Wednesday’s numbers being higher don’t seem to indicate that viewers tuned out. Obviously there are more potential viewers in the 9 o’clock hour, but if there was so much anger over James’ absence, they wouldn’t have tuned in even if the show was airing at 9:30.

Hear are last night’s final numbers:

American Idol, The Big Bang Theory,The Office, and the The Mentalist were all adjusted up a tenth of an 18-49 ratings point in the finals.

8:00 FOX American Idol 6.3/20 21.76

Whoa, didn’t notice this first -

Big Bang’s finale was down 34% from last year’s Monday finale.

The Big Bang Theory is really getting clobbered by American Idol. I wonder why they are still scheduling in the same time slot next season, are they trying to kill the show?

I think the ratings for the second half hour are always a bit higher because that is when the elimination is done and before that,a lot is filler. Plus one of the most popular sitcoms is nearing the end of the season and starts at 8 and is a half hour. I always record Big Bang Theory as it is my favorite sitcom ( the brilliant comledy of Jim Parsons) while watching Idol results. But I have friends who will not miss The Big Bang and only watch the last half of results show. ..saying the rest is boring.

I think last night was also better ratings as people tuned in to see the home visits. I think the home visits are very popular with fans and that only happens top 3.

The Big Bang Theory is really getting clobbered by American Idol. I wonder why they are still scheduling in the same time slot next season, are they trying to kill the show?

I have read where they may move the show back to Mondays , depending on how Ashton Kutcher does in Two and a Half Men replacing Sheen and those ratings. But I think there is talk about moving the show back to Mondays. But, with Parsons winning a golden globe and an emmy, Lorre is very loyal to this show and heck Two and a Half Men will be back despite Sheen and hired Ashton Kutcher.