30.1 Million Watch American Idol 8 Season Opener, Down 10%

"American Idol" Ratings Drop 10%, Still Wins (Huffington Post)

An estimated 30.1 million people watched the season debut of "American Idol" on Tuesday night, making it the most-watched prime-time show of the TV season so far.

Nielsen Media Research said that audience is down 10 percent from the 33.4 million who watched the season opener of the Fox network show in 2008. The 37.4 million who watched the 2007 debut represents the series' high point.