Super Bowl, Idol Finale Puts FOX in Top Spot

NEW YORK, May 23: For the first time since its launch, FOX has become the number one television network in the U.S.,
thanks in part to its record-breaking telecast
of the Super Bowl, and by strong ratings from the seventh-season finale
of American Idol.

FOX took the
number one ranking away from CBS. It was the only major broadcast network with
more prime-time viewers than the previous season, a distinction helped by its
telecast of the Super Bowl. FOX did not broadcast television's biggest event
during the 2006-7 season.

FOX averaged
11.1 million viewers in prime time this season through Tuesday, up 7 percent
from last year, with figures expected to rise when the American Idol finale is factored in. CBS was second
with 10.5 million viewers; it had the sharpest drop among the big broadcast
networks, at 16 percent, reports indicate. ABC finished in third place with 10
million viewers, down 7 percent, followed by NBC, which averaged 8.9 million, a
9-percent decline. The struggling The CW network was down 19 percent, with 2.6
million viewers.

According to
preliminary Nielsen Media Research estimates, the showdown between the two
remaining contenders for the seventh season of American Idol—winner David Cook and runner-up
David Archuleta—was seen by 31.7 million people on Wednesday. Last year's
finale, won by Jordin Sparks, drew 30.7 million viewers. Although this season
finale's audience was the second highest in five years, it was slightly down on
last year’s numbers among the 18-to-49 demo.

—By
Irene Lew