2012 Season Ratings: The Voice Beats American Idol in the Demo

May sweeps ended on Wednesday, effectively ending the 2012-2013 television season. Here’s how the numbers shook out.

In reality tv, The Voice reigns as the top singing competition over American Idol in terms of the key 18-49 demo. American Idol had more total viewers overall. The ranking is a little deceiving, however, considering that The Voice 4 season is not over–the finale airs on June 18. Numbers have been steadily declining in the past couple of weeks for the newbie singing competition. I’d be really curious to see a comparison after the season is complete.

There are more lists, including for comedy and drama at TV Line

Check out the Top 10 by demo and audience. American Idol was the number 1 television entertainment program for nine years. That streak ended this season as the Wednesday edition of the show sunk to 6th place. According to the Neilsen, “No other show in television history has come close to such sustained dominance. Three other programs have had four-year reigns as the top program in household ratings: the comedy “I Love Lucy” in the 1950s, the western “Gunsmoke” heading into the 1960s and “The Bill Cosby Show” in the 1980s”

FOX finished 3rd in the overall viewership, behind CBS in first place (the network also won the demo) and ABC in second. NBC came in 4th place.

American Idol’s weak ratings this year was a major factor in the FOX viewership falling by 20%.

TOP 10 BY DEMO

NBC Sunday Night Football (7.9)
The Big Bang Theory (6.2)
The Voice (Monday) (5.1)
Modern Family
The OT
American Idol (Wednesday)
The Voice (Tuesday)
American Idol (Thursday)
The Following
Grey’s Anatomy

TOP 10 BY TOTAL VIEWERS

NCIS (21.3 mil)
NBC Sunday Night Football (21 mil)
The Big Bang Theory (18.7 mil)
NCIS: Los Angeles
Person of Interest
American Idol (Wednesday)
Dancing With the Stars (Monday)
American Idol (Thursday)
The Voice (Monday)
Two and a Half Men

VIA TV Line and Associated Press