Will competitors chip away at ‘American Idol’ audience?
Jan 16, 2012 Entertainment News
Should “American Idol” be running scared?
Arriving in June 2002, the competition (spun off from the UK hit “Pop Idol”) hardly took TV by storm. Fewer than 10 million viewers tuned in for the premiere. But by the time Kelly Clarkson was crowned that September, viewership had surged to 23 million, and “Idol” hasn’t looked back.
For Season 2, in January 2003, more than 26 million Americans tuned in. For Season 3, in January 2004, almost 29 million. For the past six seasons, “American Idol” has been broadcast TV’s top-rated series.
Talent competitions are as old as television. But in its early years, “Idol” had the genre mainly to itself.
Tags: American Idol, Idol