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'Pop Idol' takes early lead over 'Fame Academy'
Published Sunday, Aug 10 2003, 13:49 BST | By Neil Wilkes
Pop Idol beat Fame Academy comfortably in the ratings last night, although both shows have said that they are happy with their viewing figures.
Fame Academy - which aired over 65 minutes from 6.25pm - averaged 3.4 million viewers, a 26.6% share of the audience. Ratings peaked at 4 million, a 34.3% share. Up 0.1m on last week's show, Fame Academy beat ITV's Pop Idol preview show, titled 'One Year On.'
The main Pop Idol show itself began at 7.15pm, averaging 5.0 million viewers and a 35.4% share. Ratings peaked at 6.3m and a 41.7% share.
"We are delighted that Pop Idol got off to such a good start," said an ITV spokeswoman today.
The BBC said they were "really pleased" with the figures, pointing out that Fame Academy was ahead - albeit marginally - of Pop Idol during the fifteen minutes the two shows overlapped.
"We are really pleased with the figures. We've said from the beginning that it is a show that picks up viewers as it goes along," said a spokeswoman. "When the shows were actually head-to-head, for 15 minutes, Fame Academy's share was 0.1% ahead of Pop Idol at 28.1%."
Fame Academy - which aired over 65 minutes from 6.25pm - averaged 3.4 million viewers, a 26.6% share of the audience. Ratings peaked at 4 million, a 34.3% share. Up 0.1m on last week's show, Fame Academy beat ITV's Pop Idol preview show, titled 'One Year On.'
The main Pop Idol show itself began at 7.15pm, averaging 5.0 million viewers and a 35.4% share. Ratings peaked at 6.3m and a 41.7% share.
"We are delighted that Pop Idol got off to such a good start," said an ITV spokeswoman today.
The BBC said they were "really pleased" with the figures, pointing out that Fame Academy was ahead - albeit marginally - of Pop Idol during the fifteen minutes the two shows overlapped.
"We are really pleased with the figures. We've said from the beginning that it is a show that picks up viewers as it goes along," said a spokeswoman. "When the shows were actually head-to-head, for 15 minutes, Fame Academy's share was 0.1% ahead of Pop Idol at 28.1%."
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