'American Idol' tops
the Olympics again
Averages 22.8 million total viewers to 19 million
By Toni Fitzgerald
Feb 25, 2010
Make it three out of four for "American Idol."
For the third time during these Olympics, the Fox reality show bested NBC's carriage of the Winter Games, one week after NBC became the first network in six years to top "Idol."
"Idol" averaged 22.8 million total viewers from 8 to 10 p.m. last night, according to Nielsen overnights, with NBC placing second in the slot with 19 million.
The Games are clearly having an impact on "Idol;" the show was off from its season average of more than 25 million.
But the Olympics are also losing a bit of steam in week two. Last night's primetime average of 19.5 million was the lowest overnight result yet for NBC this Games.
Numbers should perk up a bit tonight with the conclusion of the ladies' figure skating, but once again the Games will face "Idol," which has expanded to three editions per week for the next few weeks.
Fox led the night among 18-49s with an 8.6 average overnight rating and a 23 share. NBC was second at 5.2/14, CBS third at 1.5/4, ABC fourth at 1.4/4, Univision fifth at 1.3/4 and CW sixth at 0.4/1.
As a reminder, all ratings are based on live-plus-same-day DVR playback. Seven-day DVR data won’t be available for several weeks. Thirty-four percent of Nielsen households have DVRs.
Also, ratings for NBC’s Olympics are approximate as fast nationals measure timeslot and not actual program data.
Fox was first at 8 p.m. with an 8.1 for “Idol,” followed by NBC with a 4.1 for the Olympics. Univision was third with a 1.6 for “Hasta que el Dinero Nos Separe,” ABC fourth with a 1.3 for repeats of “Modern Family” and “The Middle,” CBS fifth with a 1.0 for reruns of “The New Adventures of Old Christine” and “Gary Unmarried,” and CW sixth with a 0.4 for a “Life Unexpected” repeat.
At 9 p.m. Fox led again with a 9.2 for the second half of “Idol,” while NBC remained second with a 5.7 for the Olympics. CBS was third with a 1.8 for a repeat of “Criminal Minds,” ABC fourth with a 1.5 for more “Modern Family” and “The Middle” reruns, Univision fifth with a 1.3 for “Corazon Salvaje” and CW sixth with a 0.2 for a repeat of “Gossip Girl.”
NBC took the lead at 10 p.m. with a 5.9 for the Olympics, with CBS second with a 1.7 for a repeat of “CSI: NY.” ABC was third with a 1.3 for an hour of “Cougar Town” reruns and Univision fourth with a 1.1 for “Don Francisco Presenta.”
Among households, Fox was first for the night with a 12.7 average overnight rating and a 20 share. NBC was second at 11.7/19, CBS third at 4.2/7, ABC fourth at 2.4/4, Univision fifth at 1.9/3 and CW sixth at 0.7/1.
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