History Channel's surprise hit The Bible tops American Idol in ratings with 13.1 million viewers

Daily Mail ^ | 03/18/2013 | ALISON MOODIE

[SeekAndFind]

It's the David and Goliath of television: an obscure religious miniseries has beaten television's former top show in the ratings.

The premier of the History Channel's The Bible attracted 13.1 million viewers, topping American Idol's 12.8 million viewers on Wednesday of the same week.

The ratings have confounded Hollywood's biggest decision-makers. Overt religious programming can be a notorious tough sell to the public, while American Idol has dominated television for the past eight seasons.

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Tastes are changing? History Channel's The Bible beat American Idol in the ratings last week, drawing in 13.1 million viewers

The about-turn is evidence again that Idol is just not the ratings juggernaut it once, while also pointing to an opportunity for networks to capitalise on the largely untapped religious genre.

Thursday's episode of American Idol sank to an all-time low 3.0 rating for its scheduled episodes, attracting a paltry 11.8 million viewers.

The ratings for television's former top show are less than half of what they were during the height of the show's success, when nearly 37 million people tuned in to watch.

[ImJustAnotherOkie]

Overt religious programming can be a notorious tough sell to the public,

I can see why the networks have trouble selling it to the public. The History Channel however has a more even handed track record. If any of the Big 3 had a religious every character would be gay pedophiles taking Zanax.

[redgolum]

So far, we like the “Bible”.

Yes it is short snippets. Yes it strives to be all inclusive on the race. Yes the devil looks like Obama (doubt they meant to do that).

Still, it is a great starting point for conversation. A place to start the process, not an end.

Which is the great value of this series. It talks to the people today. The same who are only able to concentrate on things in small bites. The ones who grew up with movies like “Gladiator”, and know when you say “they sacked the city” it doesn't mean a polite outing.

It is like one of my child's "Jesus Movies" for adults. It isn't meant to be the end of the study of God, but the beginning.

[SMARTY]

Maybe some people have reached the saturation point with mindless diversion, gaudy glitz and stupefying sameness!

[chicagolady]

God Bless AMERICA!!

I read the book and know how it ends!

[GeronL]

Unfortunately, IDOL, is still a top-5 show isn’t it?

[Bryanw92]

>>The about-turn is evidence again that Idol is just not the ratings juggernaut it once, while also pointing to an opportunity for networks to capitalise on the largely untapped religious genre.

It isn’t just the religious genre. It’s the largely untapped “shows that aren’t crap” genre!

[Bryanw92]

>>God Bless AMERICA!!
>>I read the book and know how it ends!

Then you know that He doesn’t bless the America of child sacrifices, sexual immorality, idolatry, and the Mark of Obamacare.

[I Drive Too Fast]

Makes perfect sense. After all, we are not supposed to worship idols.

[SeekAndFind]

Primetime Broadcast Adults 18-49 Viewers for the week ending March 10, 2013:

Rank	Shows	R=Repeat S=Special P=Premiere	Net	18-49 rating	18-49 Viewers (000)
1	Big Bang Theory, THE-03/07		CBS	5.5	6965
2	Two and a Half Men-03/07		CBS	3.9	4954
3	American Idol-WEDNESDAY-03/06		FOX	3.8	4746
4	American Idol-THURSDAY-03/07		FOX	3.6	4492
5	American Idol TUE SP-3/5-03/05	S	FOX	3.5	4396
6	NCIS-03/05		CBS	3.4	4292
7	NCIS: LOS ANGELES-03/05		CBS	2.8	3559
8	Person Of Interest-03/07		CBS	2.8	3551
9	FOLLOWING, THE-03/04		FOX	2.8	3595
10	BACHELOR, THE-03/04		ABC	2.8	3511
11	Family Guy-03/10		FOX	2.7	3371
12	SURVIVOR: CARAMOAN-03/06		CBS	2.6	3285
13	Amazing Race 22-03/10		CBS	2.4	3037
14	GLEE-03/07		FOX	2.4	3084
15	Once Upon A Time-03/10		ABC	2.3	2874
16	BONES-03/04		FOX	2.2	2847
17	Rules of Engagement-03/04		CBS	2.2	2788
18	Biggest Loser 14-03/04		NBC	2.2	2723
19	Simpsons-03/10		FOX	2.2	2734
20	Modern Family-03/06	R	ABC	2.1	2594
21	REVENGE-03/10		ABC	2.0	2540
22	Shark Tank-03/08		ABC	2.0	2508
23	MIKE & Molly-03/04	R	CBS	1.8	2290
24	Apprentice 13-03/10		NBC	1.8	2219
25	CLEVELAND-SUN 8:30P-03/10		FOX	1.8	2279

---

TOP 25 CABLE SHOWS WEEK ENDING MARCH 10,2013.

Rank	Shows	Net	Day	Time	Viewers Live+SD (000)
1	Walking Dead	AMC	Sun	09:00P-10:01P	11458
2	BIBLE, THE	HIST	Sun	08:00P-10:00P	10824
3	DUCK DYNASTY	A&E	Wed	10:30P-11:01P	8212
4	DUCK DYNASTY	A&E	Wed	10:00P-10:30P	8158
5	WWE Entertainment	USA	Mon	09:00P-10:00P	5239
6	WWE Entertainment	USA	Mon	08:00P-09:00P	4968
7	WWE Entertainment	USA	Mon	10:00P-11:05P	4847
8	Pawn Stars	HIST	Mon	10:00P-10:31P	4814
9	Pawn Stars	HIST	Mon	10:31P-11:02P	4798
10	VIKINGS	HIST	Sun	10:00P-11:01P	4615
11	Swamp People	HIST	Thu	09:00P-10:00P	4460
12	American Pickers	HIST	Mon	09:00P-10:00P	4269
13	DUCK DYNASTY	A&E	Wed	09:30P-10:00P	4231
14	SpongeBob	NICK	Sat	10:30A-11:00A	4041
15	NCIS	USA	Wed	08:00P-09:00P	4000
16	SpongeBob	NICK	Sat	10:00A-10:30A	3921
17	NCIS	USA	Wed	09:00P-10:00P	3776
18	Big Bang Theory, THE	TBSC	Sat	10:00P-10:30P	3761
19	Big Bang Theory, THE	TBSC	Sat	10:30P-11:00P	3752
20	Big Bang Theory, THE	TBSC	Sat	09:30P-10:00P	3644
21	RAMONA AND BEEZUS	DSNY	Sat	08:00P-09:50P	3638
22	SpongeBob	NICK	Sat	09:00A-09:30A	3600
23	JESSIE	DSNY	Fri	08:30P-09:00P	3595
24	Big Bang Theory, THE	TBSC	Tue	09:30P-10:00P	3547
25	Big Bang Theory, THE	TBSC	Tue	09:00P-09:30P	3479

[stylin19a]

seems there’s is an underlying thirst here.
Where’s the next Ronald Reagan ?

[elpinta]

“If any of the Big 3 had a religious every character would be gay pedophiles taking Zanax.”

“Maybe some people have reached the saturation point with mindless diversion, gaudy glitz and stupefying sameness!”

Not sure which one of you two wins the prize (if there was one), but you have nailed it!

EP

[doorgunner69]

How odd, not one show on either list I have ever watched.

Currently, "Justified" sums it up for the only thing other than Netflix that gets watched in our house. I add in MotoGP and NFL games when in season.

[AllAmericanGirl44]

I have never watched Idol, ever. I must really be out of the main stream!

And who is that creature they have as a judge?

[Wurlitzer]

The only thing that is PERFECTLY clear after watching the first few shows is why on earth do we put so much stock, faith, effort, money into supporting “leaders” of any stripe?

A strong case can be made, thanks to history, that government is a tool of the devil. As Lord Acton said; Power Corrupts and Absolute Power Corrupts absolutely.

How much evil, death and destruction do governments and their leaders have to inflict on us before we play the BS card when someone tries to scare us with the anarchy card?

It seems assured that there will always be evil people and they will do evil things but once given the power of government their evil is multiplied hundreds/thousands/millions of times.

Governments are just like fire, a helpful and needed tool when small but, a horrendous and deadly master once they become large and they ALWAYS do.

The Founders warned us but thanks to public schools, media, lawyers the brilliance of the Founders has been tarnished.

[GeronL]

They have several judges I think

[Salvavida]

The next obvious step is to target the advertisers: What themes do we want to influence our culture?

[chris37]

Hey YO, Nikki Minaj SUUUUCKKKS yo!

Yo, Mariah, you are an air head, babe, yo.

Randy Yo Jackson, stop saying yo, dude. It doesn’t make you look cool, it makes you look stupid.

All the guys sing like little pussies. What the Hell ever happened to metal..

The girls are ok, I suppose, but they mostly all sound the same.

Oh and

YO, Nikki Minaj SUCKS, YO!

[chicagolady]

Sorry, I was not clear,

God Bless America 13.1 million viewers!

[nothingnew]

He may not be the "American Idol", but He will always be mine.

FMCDH(BITS)