'Idol' lower dramatically in premiere

Fox's "The American Idol ShowInch opened up its eleventh season Wednesday lower considerably from this past year, though its delivery among teenagers still narrowly capped the combined delivery of ABC, CBS and NBC in the timeframe.Initial Nielsen estimations show "Idol" calculating a 7.2 rating/18 be part of grown ups 18-49 and 21.six million audiences overall -- lower in the 9.8 demo score and 26.3 million audiences it opened to last year and rich its bow if 2010 (11.8, 29.9 million). The roughly 25% decline versus. last year's premiere marks the biggest dropoff up to now in the opening of 1 "Idol" season to another.Nevertheless, the only real series telecast to fare best both in demos and total audiences this year was CBS' season premiere from the restarted "2 . 5 Males" with Ashton Kutcher (10.7 demo rating, 28.7 million audiences overall).And "Idol" still towers over other music competition series. In comparison, NBC's "The Voice" opened last April to some 5.1/13 in 18-49 and 11.8 million audiences overall, and Fox's "The X Factor" bowed four several weeks ago having a 4.4/12 and 12.5 million audiences overall.The space certainly closed between "Idol" and it is competition on Wednesday, because the other major systems counseled me up from eight to ten p.m. around the evening of last year's premiere. Whereas Fox brought the combined ABC-CBS-NBC competition by about 55% this past year, which was reduced to simply 3% last evening.ABC was runner-up for that evening in demos, brought by "Modern Family" (5. rating/12 be part of grown ups 18-49, 11.8 million audiences overall), that was around the low finish of their range but nonetheless up nearly 10% year upon year. Also for that internet, "The CenterInch placed second to "Idol" starting off the evening (2.6/7 in 18-49, 8.two million audiences overall) and matched up its year-ago score, while "Suburgatory" at 8:30 p.m. (2.5/6 in 18-49, 7. million audiences overall) and "Happy Being" at 9:30 p.m. (2.5/6 in 18-49, 7. million audiences overall) were both up versus. the comedies the internet was airing during these timeslots last year. And shutting the evening, "Revenge" (2.5/6 in 18-49, 7.six million audiences overall) also gave ABC time-period gains, putting a solid second within the 10 o'clock hour possibly attaining some overflow "Idol" audiences, "Revenge" capped its previous five episodes among grown ups 18-34 (2.1/6).CBS opened up by having an "NCIS" repeat (1.5/4 in 18-49, 9.a million audiences overall) after which did a good number at 9 p.m. with "Criminal Minds" (3.2/8 in 18-49, 12.8 million audiences overall), that was up 10% versus. its performance opposite "Idol's" premiere last season. "CSI" then assigned things for CBS having a victory at 10 p.m. (2.8/7 in 18-49, 11.8 million audiences overall) the episode was marketed because the to begin the ultimate two episodes featuring original castmember Marg Helgenberger, and then week's hour is anticipated to do better still.NBC hung inside using its new comedy block of "Whitney" (1.5/5 in 18-49, 4.3 million audiences overall) and "Are You Currently There, Chelsea?" (1.8/4 in 18-49, 4.3 million audiences overall), which did slightly much better than gameshow "Minute to Win It" within the 8 o'clock hour last year. Similarly, "Harry's Law" would be a slight improvement at 9 (1.1/3 in 18-49, 6.4 million audiences overall), while vet "Law & Order: SVU" went third at 10 (1.8/5 in 18-49, 6.4 million audiences overall) and was lower versus. this past year.At CW, "One Tree Hill" (.7/2 in 18-49, 1.5 million audiences overall) was lower from the season premiere of a week ago, also it was then new reality show "Renovated" (.3/one in 18-49, .six million audiences overall for any repeat from the previous night's episode).Preliminary 18-49 earnings for that evening: Fox, 7.2/18 ABC, 3./8 CBS, 2.5/6 NBC, 1.5/4 Univision, 1.3/3 CW, .5/1.As a whole audiences: Fox, 21.six million CBS, 11.two million ABC, 8.a million NBC, 5.7 million Univision, 3.a million CW, 1.a million. Contact Ron Kissell at ron.kissell@variety.com