newsmakers

newsmakers

‘X Factor’ ratings are underwhelming

LOS ANGELES

Not everything Simon Cowell touches turns to gold.

Ratings for the British impresario’s new singing competition, Fox’s “The X Factor,” delivered an underwhelming 12.2 million total viewers in its two-hour Wednesday premiere, according to early figures from Nielsen.

Considering the level of hype surrounding the show — and the involvement of Cowell, who left “American Idol” to start “Factor” in America — the numbers were low. Cowell had said he wanted the show to beat “Idol,” but so far it looks to be well under half of “Idol’s” peak numbers.

And, in what has to be concerning to Fox executives, “X Factor” built very little during its two hours and actually dipped slightly at 9 p.m., when the one-hour season premiere of ABC’s hit sitcom “Modern Family” delivered 14.3 million viewers.

Associated Press