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‘American Idol’ Set for Jan., NBC Expected to Take Hit

The networks, far ahead of the ailing Fox, are nonetheless bracing for Fox’s American Idol, which hits the airwaves in January.

During each of the last four years, Fox’s Idol has been predicted to lose steam, but that hasn’t happened yet, according to Media Life.

To combat Idol, along with Fox’s also popular 24, the networks have plenty of midseason releases waiting in the wings. ABC, for example, will launch serialized drama Traveler, as well as sitcoms Knights of Prosperity, Notes from the Underbelly and In Case of Emergency, writes Mediaweek.

According to Jim and George Lopez return midseason, while CBS will debut sitcom Rules of Engagement and NBC will launch dramas Black Donnellys and Raines. NBC also returns The Apprentice to its schedule.

Fox, in addition to American Idol and 24, brings back sitcom The Loop, plus a few new shows: sitcom The Winner, and dramas Drive and The Wedding Store.

While 24 is a hit show, some expect that NBC’s Heroes may be able to hold its own against it. Still, NBC, which is on an upswing, is expected to take the biggest hit from Fox’s mid-season shows.

Fox’s early season ratings are dismal - its adults 18-49 demo average is 9 percent behind where it was at this time last year - but that doesn’t mean it can’t come back to beat ABC for the season.

Last year, after all, Fox made up a deficit that seemed nearly insurmountable to beat ABC by 0.1 rating point.

And this year, Fox gets to air college football’s highly rated Bowl Championship series for the first time. Meanwhile, ABC won’t get to air the Super Bowl, which gave it a big boost last year.
The Media Life article also gives a rundown of English-language broadcast ratings for the week ended Nov. 19.