An Idol Threat To Seacrest?
Written Apr. 29, 2008 by Sean Ross in Content with 1 Comment
There's a story posted yesterday on MSNBC.com that an online study on "American Idol" is being undertaken in this season of declining ratings, including at least two perceptual questions about host Ryan Seacrest. From this, the story concludes that, in the words of its headline, "Seacrest's 'Idol' future may not be so secure" and speculates that Seacrest's multi-media ubiquity might finally be catching up with him.
Before you start worrying too much about Ryan though, consider that the producers of "Idol," if they're smart (and that's pretty well-established) have probably done perceptual research on the show since the beginning. In those studies, they've probably asked the same questions about Seacrest every year, in the same way that a radio station perceptual would typically ask about the morning show. That doesn't mean that every element of the show isn't under scrutiny this year, or that this study wouldn't resurface at contract time. But it does mean that to look at the inclusion of any one item is to look at it out of context.
Reader Comments
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Seems like the producers of "American Idol" are missing the point entirely with the survey. The ratings aren't declining because of Seacrest, they're declining because people are tired of the show. You can't tell me with a straight face that there's an "Idol" every year.
Fox has failed to learn from "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire", a show that was on three times a week until people just got tired of watching.