‘Idol’ ad ratings take a nosedive; ‘X Factor’ renewed for third season
The revamped judges panel for "Idol" might help stabilize the show's ratings after last year's precipitous fall. CREDIT: Fox
For five years, advertisers paid more for 30 seconds on ‘American Idol’ than any other show.
Not anymore.
Ad Age, in a poll, reports that “Idol” rates dropped 30 percent (about equal to the actual ratings drop), from $502,900 to $340,825 per 30-second ad.
Tops now is NBC’s “Sunday Night Football,’ averaging $545,145.
Generally, ratings on the broadcast networks this fall continue to decline sharply, especially among younger viewers.
I anticipate “Idol” should match ratings in January compared to a year ago when it launches its 12th season with all the buzz and hype of the new judges, but whether it can hold them depends wholly on the talent once we get to the live shows.
***
Fox has renewed ‘X Factor’ for a third season despite sharply lower ratings from season one now that it’s up against “The Voice.”
The press release was packed with hyperbole. Mike Darnell, who runs Fox TV’s alternative/reality TV department, said this:
“This season, Simon and the producers of THE X FACTOR took an already strong show and made it absolutely fantastic. The format changes are working, the contestants are unbelievably talented, and Britney and Demi – alongside Simon and L.A – have brought an incredibly fun new chemistry to the judges’ panel that our fans really love,” said Darnell. “We feel great about the show and I’m thrilled to bring it back next year for Season Three.”
The release does not mention the mess that happened last week when only half the show was aired due to a rain delayed baseball game. The episode airs tomorrow night at 9:30 p.m., extending into the 10 p.m. news hour by 30 minutes. But it’s a shortened one-hour results show instead of the original two-hour take. And it keeps Fox on schedule with most of its Tuesday night comedy schedule before baseball intervenes.
It’s being beaten regularly by “The Voice” in total viewers and 18-49 ratings, averaging 9 million viewers on Wednesdays and Thursdays. The early episodes of “The X Factor” last year, with less competition, was closer to 12 million viewers.
The first live shows debut after Halloween on Wednesday, Nov. 1 with Khloe Kardashian and Mario Lopez as co hosts. When “X Factor” goes live the week of the election, “The Voice” will compete on Wednesday and Thursday, same nights as “The X Factor.”
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70 comments Add your comment
Mercedes S.
October 24th, 2012
9:49 am
But those lines worked. Weird.
Rickster
October 24th, 2012
10:04 am
I noticed a pattern watching the Demi & L.A from the interrupted show the other night. (I haven’t seen Britney or Simon’s choices)
Six contestants:
1st one – in
2nd one – in
3rd one – out
4th one – in
then they bounce back & forth between the 5th & 6th one to build drama till one goes home and the other goes through to the live show.
Sam-A
October 24th, 2012
10:45 am
I seem to have been banned – two posts never showed up!
DanJ
October 24th, 2012
10:54 am
Deirdre, I don’t know if the balance male to female cotestants was by design or not. I do think they chose the most talented. The unders are a good example since they took three 13 year old girls although in that group of six they were the most talented. LA Reid chose 4 men but he only had on female Tara in the pool. He also chose the best 4 IMO. In an ironic twist since he got blasted for taking two rappers and an R&B guy (Marcus) last year he chose 4 men. None of which is R&B or Rap/Hip-hop.
Demi chose the best four as well although Jillian and Paige were a toss up. I think Simon even picked the best 4 groups although only LYLAS has a chance to make it to the top 5 IMO.
It will be interesting IF XF-USA follows this years XF-UK and has a wildcard. The wild-card is made up of 1 contestants from each group cut and is voted on by fans. If that’s the case Jillian will probably make it.
Woodpappy
October 24th, 2012
11:04 am
I watched a bit of Simon’s show last night. He is such a pompus azz with his dark shades and his white T-shirts….Geez
Sam-A
October 24th, 2012
11:11 am
Woodpappy: Guess you’d forgotten – he hasn’t changed that much from Idol days!
JTesla
October 24th, 2012
11:19 am
He was that way on Idol, but now it’s become a bit of a joke. Each year he becomes more and more a caricature of himself.
G
October 24th, 2012
12:22 pm
I don’t think it’s neccessarily a bad thing “if” the producers had a role in determining a balance of contestants chosen. Idol does the same, so this is nothing new.
JTesla
October 24th, 2012
12:42 pm
You’re right G, it’s nothing new, but after a few years of watching people gripe about Idol forcing a gender balance it’s kind of funny to see that other shows do the same thing.
Deirdre
October 24th, 2012
1:15 pm
Not only that but pretending you aren’t deliberately gender balancing is dishonest. Idol was always upfront about it. While I agree with Dan that the best choices made it in, I don’t agree that it may have been a coincidence. I think the deck was stacked before anyone got to a judge’s house.
Deirdre
October 24th, 2012
1:22 pm
Here’s the latest promo(thanks to mj) for American Idol:
http://www.mjsbigblog.com/philip-phillips-featured-in-the-new-american-idol-promo-video.htm
Rickster
October 24th, 2012
1:39 pm
Idol’s return to air dates set:
“The announcement may not have the same impact as it did a few years ago but Fox is still rolling out the early warning sign to drum up anticipation: American Idol will bow over two nights on Jan. 16-17. Also premiering with the talent show will be the new panel of judges — Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj and Keith Urban — who will join Randy Jackson and Ryan Seacrest on the show’s 12th (!) season.”
http://insidetv.ew.com/2012/10/24/fox-announces-american-idol-start-date/
Seth T
October 24th, 2012
3:32 pm
I believe the decisions to advance on X-Factor are a consensus decision between producers and the Judges, with the Judges playing the part. This is the “casting” they wanted, and may even throw-in a 17th call-back.
Much better talent than last year though. But there is some fodder in the mix that will take a while to get removed when live voting comes.
Mercedes S.
October 24th, 2012
4:42 pm
Caught up with Xfactor’s who stays and who goes. The frail yong mom – Page? – was a pity choice. Guess the producers want the tension between her and Cece.
DanJ
October 24th, 2012
4:43 pm
Deirdre, I think a lot goes on behind the scenes. How the thrown together groups are chosen is one. The other is how the top six for home shows are chosen. Some of the girls from the group LYLAS were never really shown as single performers. I think 3 of the 5 were. I do think that balance both sexually and racially are used to keep people from trying to make an issue about either. We do live a lawsuit happy world!
Rickster
October 24th, 2012
5:06 pm
Have a good evening, everyone!
Deirdre
October 25th, 2012
8:10 am
Morning!
Dan, I agree. Except for wildcard picks, Idol has never made any bones about picking gender equality on their show. They tried one year to pick based on talent only and it didn’t work at all. I would like to see Idol eliminate the instruments and go back to being strictly about singing. It would be interesting to see how that changes things…if it does.
I don’t know for sure but I think that the majority of Idol viewers are female. And much like men enjoy listening to and watching an attractive girl with a good voice, women feel the same way. So, eliminating instruments may not actually change anything.
Deirdre
October 25th, 2012
9:28 am
new thread up!
American Idol 2013 Ad Rates Fall From Top Spot | American Idol Net
October 25th, 2012
11:01 am
[...] MSN Money via AJC Subscribe to free American Idol updates on Facebook, Twitter, RSS, & Email /* */ [...]
Kat
October 25th, 2012
3:47 pm
Maybe I missed it but did anyone else notice Rodney had the wrong date.
“The first live shows debut after Halloween on Wednesday, Nov. 1 with Khloe Kardashian and Mario Lopez as co hosts.”
Should read Wednesday, Oct 31 or Thursday, Nov 1