Strong Debut for New Season of American Idol

LOS ANGELES: American Idol came out of the gate strong with the debut of its ninth season on FOX, with an estimated audience of nearly 30 million, according to preliminary Nielsen figures. 

This is its first season without judge Paula Abdul on board, and next season, judge Simon Cowell is leaving the show as well. Tuesday’s viewership of 29.9 million is about 2 percent lower than last year’s season debut audience of just above 30 million. By comparison, the 2009 debut episode was 10-percent down from 2008 figures. The 37.4 million who watched the 2007 debut represents the series’ high point for opening nights.

"I think people love to love the show," said Mike Darnell, FOX’s executive in charge of alternative programming. "It’s one of the few phenomena that exist: the Super Bowl, the Oscars, American Idol. It’s an American tradition."