March Madness Dominates Ratings, 'American Idol' Drops From Its Launch | THR News

American Idol's second episode on ABC saw a significant drop in viewership, likely due to competition from March Madness. The show averaged 7.7 million viewers and a 1.8 rating among adults 18-49, a decline from its premiere. Time-shifted viewing helped the first episode's ratings. ABC's Deception also saw a drop in ratings. CBS's NCAA basketball coverage dominated the night, with high ratings and viewership, providing a strong platform for its other shows like 60 Minutes and Instinct. Instinct performed well in total viewers but not as strongly among younger audiences.

What were the ratings for ABC's Drama Deception compared to American Idol?

What was the impact of CBS's NCAA basketball coverage on American Idol's ratings?