The American Idol season premiere on Tuesday, January 18, 2005, brought a whopping audience to WRAZ-TV/FOX 50 in Durham. The show delivered a 23.5 household rating and 32 share, making the show the highest rated prime time program to air in the market this season. The numbers were a 32% increase over last year’s premiere episode of American Idol.

“WRAL'S 10pm News on FOX 50” did a 14.3 HH rating and a 21 share, making it the number one late news in the market for the night.

Other programming that Tuesday night benefited from the Idol audience and kept television sets tuned to FOX 50. Extra delivered a 5.8HH/9 share, and That 70’s Show delivered a 4.5 HH/9 share.

American Idol currently shows on FOX 50 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 8pm. FOX 50’s own local talent competition Gimme the Mike! will premiere in April in the 7:30pm slot before the national American Idol.