American Idol Returns with 30 Million Viewers

LOS ANGELES, January 14: Season eight of American Idol premiered on FOX last night with an estimated 30.1 million viewers, 10-percent down on the season opener last year.

The hit show from FremantleMedia and 19 Entertainment remains the most-watched show on American TV, despite the dip in ratings from the season-seven premiere, with 33.4 million viewers.

The producers have made some changes to the format this season, including adding a new judge, Kara DioGuardi.

—By Mansha Daswani