After a 6 week Christmas/New Year Hiatus, FOX's Glee returned last night with its first episode of the new year, which earned a 2.6 18-49 rating and 6.79 million viewers. This is the best ratings and audience numbers for Glee this season since the fourth episode of the season, airing on October 4 last year. That episode was the final episode before a 5 week break, earning a 2.6 rating and 6.07 million viewers
After that 5 week break, a 5 episode block aired, earning between a 1.5 and 2.4 rating, but not pushing past 5.68 million viewers
All of the episodes before last night's one have had the results show of The X Factor as a lead-in. Last night's one had American Idol as a lead-in which earned a 5.2 rating and 15.65 million viewers.
As a lead-in for Glee, The X Factor simply cannot compete with American Idol despite being one of FOX's better performing shows in its own right. The best result it earned in the episodes it was the lead-in for Glee last year was a 3.5 rating and 10.15 million viewers. In summary, last nights American Idol earned 1.7 more ratings points, and 5.5 million more viewers than the best performing episode of The X Factor that was a lead-in for Glee
In seasons 2 and 3, Glee aired at 8pm with no lead-in. Hoewver in its first season Glee had American Idol as its lead-in for 8 out of 22 episodes. Without American Idol as its lead-in, Glee averaged a 3.40 rating and 7.75 million viewers. But with American Idol as its lead-in, Glee averaged a 4.84 rating and 11.62 million viewers. That's a 1.44 average ratings point increase in ratings, and a 3.87 million increase in average audience. The full ratings tables and graphs for season 1 are here
The likelihood of Glee getting that sort of a boost this season is slim to none, but any boost is a good boost. Once a few more episodes air this year with American Idol as a lead-in, we will be able to judge more accurately how much of a difference American Idol has on the ratings and audience averages
What do you expect the ratings and audience average increase to be during the time American Idol leads in Glee this season?? For the record, this season (including last night's episode) is currently averaging a 2.36 rating and 5.92 million viewers. Sound out in the comments below!
Check out Glee on my website, www.seriesmonitor.com/glee for more statistics and analysis
Thanks for reading
Jimmy
