The
big salaries paid to this year's Idol judges don't look like they've paid off
in the season debut. Picture: AP Source: AP
The Daily Telegraph reports
Throwing millions of dollars of cash at hosts
Nicki Minaj, Mariah Carey and Keith Urban hasn't paid off for American Idol
producers with the show recording its lowest ratings for a debut episode ever.
Audiences for the season premiere were down 19 per cent on last year's
launch episode, which was the previous lowest-ever ratings.
Mariah Carey was paid a rumoured $17 million for her second year on the
show, while Nicki Minaj reportedly landed $12 million and Keith Urban, $4
million.
The same episode also premiered on Aussie TV screens last night five
hours after it aired in the US to an audience of 539,000, with Ten
fast-tracking it to screens before the official ratings period begins.
A Ten spokesperson told Mumbrella that they were happy with the result.
“We’re pleased with how it has started, pleased enough to move it to an
earlier timeslot.”
But Emma Ashton, editor of reality TV blog, Reality Ravings, doesn't agree.
"Network Ten would slightly disappointed about the ratings for the start of American Idol considering it is the first big name show to start this year," Ashton told news.com.au.
"They would be hoping Keith Urban who gained a massive following this year on The Voice would lure viewers in."
Editor of TVTonight.com.au, David Knox says the show is no match for The Voice.
"It's not exactly a spectacular start, even accounting for the tough competition for the tennis," he told news.com.au.
"There will be some initial curiosity surrounding Keith Urban but after that it will need to survive on its own terms. It may help Ten's struggling Fridays and lift in its closing stages but this is no contest for The Voice."
Ten had taken out multiple full-page advertisements and heavily promoted the program before its debut.
Seven News was the most watched program for the night with 1.19m, Nine News second (1.14m) Today Tonight third and (1.01m) A Current Affair fourth (960k).
930,000 tuned in to watch the Australian Open tennis coverage on Seven.
American Idol has been largely on a downward trend since 2009 due to fatigue with the concept, an abundance of television talent shows such as The Voice and America's Got Talent.
Some have suggested that the much-publicised sniping between hosts Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj has been a turn off.
No comments:
Post a Comment