Ratings lower for 'Idol' season premiere

30.1m viewers tuned in to see the start of American Idol's 2009 season, according to figures from Nielsen Media Research.

Same-night DVR numbers added 320,000 viewers to the total, but the season premiere was down approximately 9% from last year, when the season premiere was watched by 33.4m, and was the series' least watched season opener since 2004.

Of particular concern to Fox will be Idol's steep declines in its mainstay demographics, with numbers off almost a quarter amongst adults 18-34 and off 15% among adults 18-49. A much smaller 10% erosion among adults 25-54 suggests that the series is skewing significantly older this season.

Fox Entertainment chairman Peter Liguori told Variety that the network was "relieved but not satisfied" and acknowledged that Idol's numbers in the younger demographics were "clearly not where we want them to be". He suggested that critical judgment be reserved until numbers for the show's second outing are released, which he suggested would represent a "bellwether" as to the success of tweaks including the addition of fourth judge Kara DioGuardi.