American Idol leads TV ratings in US

With a fresh round of auditions in Detroit, American Idol was again the top-rated show on the major networks last week and gave Fox a comfortable win, though as expected it fell from last week’s premiere.

The Motor City visit, kicking off the second week of the show’s 13th season, drew 13.2-million viewers on average, down 12 per cent in total viewers from the season opener, according to preliminary figures from Nielsen. Among the advertiser-desired 18-to-49 age group, Idol earned a rating of 4.0, down 13 per cent week to week; however, the number is a slight improvement on last Thursday night’s episode.

Boasting Keith Urban, Jennifer Lopez and Harry Connick Jr. in the judges chairs, the veteran reality show is hoping to regain some viewers after taking a ratings slide last year.

The next highest-rated show was ABC’s Modern Family, up nine per cent from last week to a 3.5 in the key demographic. It drew 9.74-million viewers overall.

The entire ABC line-up improved week to week, with The Middle leading off up 22 per cent among young adults and Suburgatory rising 13 per cent from last week’s premiere. The freshman Rebel Wilson comedy Super Fun Night and Nashville also posted gains.

NBC dramas also improved. Revolution increased its 18-to-49 rating by 15 per cent from last week to a 1.5, followed by Law & Order: SVU, up 29 per cent from last week to a 1.8. The new Dick Wolf-produced 10pm drama Chicago P.D., a spin-off from Chicago Fire, grew seven per cent week to week for a demo rating of 1.6, tied with time-slot competition on CBS — a slipping episode of CSI.

CSI lost 20 per cent of its 18-to-49 rating from last week, after Criminal Minds posted a 2.2 rating, down slightly from the week before.

In the UAE, American Idol airs on OSN First HD every Thursday and Friday at 9pm.