TV Ratings: 'American Idol' Wednesday premiere is steady

Randy Jackson of 'American Idol'

Credit: FOX

Fast National ratings for Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2009.

Facing less competition on Wednesday night, FOX's "American Idol" held onto almost all of its premiere audience, delivering encouraging news for the network.

Among adults 18-49, FOX did a 11.6 rating, destroying second place CBS' 2.9 rating in the key demographic. ABC and NBC's 1.7 rating tied for third. The CW was fifth with a 0.5 rating.

FOX also won overall with an estimated 29.9 million viewers, plus a 16.4 rating/25 share. CBS Was a distant second with a 7.3/11. NBC's 4.0/6 and ABC's 2.9/5 followed. The CW's 0.7/1 was fifth. 

In the 8 p.m. hour, the start of the "Idol" Wednesday premiere had a 15.1/24. CBS' "The New Adventures of Old Christine" and "Gary Unmarried" tied for second with a 4.7/7. NBC's "Knight Rider" was third with a 3.4/5. ABC's "Lost" was fourth, followed by the 0.9/1 for "13 - Fear Is Real." 

"Idol" improved to a 17.7/27 in the 9 p.m. hour, destroying the 9.0/13 for "Criminal Minds" on CBS. NBC's "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" was third, edging the 2.8/4 for "Lost" on ABC. The CW's "90210" repeat trailed.

CBS moved into first place at 10 p.m. with an 8.2/14 for "CSI: NY." NBC's "Law & Order" was second with a 5.5/9, while ABC's "Lost" trailed.

All ratings information comes from preliminary Fast National Nielsen data, which includes live and same-day DVR viewing. All numbers are subject to change.

Daniel Fienberg
Executive Editor

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A long-time member of the TCA Board and a longer-time blogger of "American Idol," Dan Fienberg writes about TV, except for when he writes about movies or sometimes writes about the Red Sox. But never music. He would sound stupid talking about music.