'The Voice' 2013, 'American Idol' 2013 Ratings War: Results Show Idol Declining More Drastically Than 'The Voice'
Why is American Idol tanking in the ratings while The Voice holds relatively steady?
It is no secret that American Idol suffered a severe decline in viewership throughout season 12. With an average viewership of 13.3 million, Idol has fallen hard since its season 5 heyday when viewership reached 30.26 million, according to WetPaint.
However, comparable singing competitions such as The Voice seem to have a relatively solid showing. With 15.3 million viewers for the season finale, the program did see a slight decline from last spring (8 percent) but nothing near as drastic as Idol, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Former Idol judge Randy Jackson doesn't think the dropping stats are too big of a problem but he does feel a jolt at the recognition that The Voice has garnered in such a short time.
"I don't think about ratings that much because I think when you're in your 12th season and you're still on the air, and you're getting 11, 12, 13 million people an episode, wow," Jackson told The Hollywood Reporter. "But there's a target on your back because there's a show [The Voice] in its fourth season that's getting that, so you go, 'Wait a minute, really?'"
For their part, The Voice coaches have their own speculations as to why the NBC competition is succeeding where Fox is quickly beginning to fall. While Shakira attributes some viewership to the chemistry of the coaches, according to a recent interview with Oprah, producer Mark Burnett claims it is the difference in format.
"[The Voice] is kinder. There's no humiliation of anybody on The Voice," Burnett told Oprah.
Whereas American Idol has produced harsh criticism of performers, The Voice uses their coaches as mentors in an effort to improve their competitors' craft while Idol doesn't produce such a nurturing environment.
The ratings war between the shows may show a shift in viewer preferences or it could be contributed to lack of interest in certain judges or performers. It still remains to be seen how Idol will perform next season after it undergoes a casting overhaul.
