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American Idol breaks new ratings records


ITV may have turned its back on Pop Idol, but the US version of Simon Fuller's talent show format is still smashing ratings records for Fox - more than 35 million viewers tuned in for the fifth series launch this week.

The two-hour American Idol launch show on Tuesday night drew 35.5 million viewers to Fox - the best-ever opening for the format and the biggest audience for any non-sports programme in the current 2005-06 US TV season, which began in September.

American Idol is shattering ratings records across the board: Tuesday's launch attracted a bigger share of 18- to 49-year-olds than all the other five US terrestrial networks combined in its timeslot; the biggest 18- to 49-year old audience for any non-sports show since the Friends' finale in May 2004; the second best-ever ratings for a episode of the show (beaten only by the third series final, also in May 2004).

The second episode, on Wednesday evening, clocked up the second-best ratings for any non-sports broadcast in the current US TV season, with 31.65 million viewers.

Overall, ratings for the first two episodes of American Idol are up by nearly 10% compared with the start of the fourth series on Fox last year.

"The longevity of this show has always been in the forefront of my mind and I've always maintained that by keeping it to one season a year, it becomes event TV that all the world looks forward to," said Mr Fuller, the American Idol creator, who co-produces the Fox show with Fremantle Media.

"This success is further underlined by the superstar talent that American Idol has produced such as Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood and Clay Aitkin."

Wednesday night's American Idol also gave a leg-up to the following Fox show, new celebrity reality ice-skating format, Skating With Celebrities, which launched with 18.74 million viewers in the 9pm-10pm slot. Only ABC's Lost got a bigger audience at that time, attracting 19.13 million viewers. guardian

Abdul signs new American Idol contract

Paula Abdul, who shares judging duties on Fox’s hit talent show American Idol, has signed a deal to remain for another three years, the network announced in Los Angeles.

She and judge Simon Cowell are known for their bickering on the programme, which is drawing bigger audiences than ever in its fifth series. While Cowell often slams contestants, Abdul takes a gentler approach in her comments.

The contestants “truly inspire and amaze me each week,” Abdul said. “Of course, I also look forward to putting Simon in his place for years to come.”

Cowell and Fox reached a deal in November that will keep the British record executive and TV producer on the show for at least five more seasons.

Abdul is a singer and a movie, TV and stage choreographer who has worked with Janet Jackson, George Michael and Prince.

American Idol is paring the finalists down to the winner, who will be announced on the May 24 finale.

This week, the field was to be reduced to nine after another contestant was voted off yesterday. breakingnews