PARENTS have turned their back on Australian Idol, with last night's series debut slumping up to 20 per cent in the ratings.
In an apparent snub of controversial judge Kyle Sandilands, Sydney audiences in particular switched off the first audition episode, with ratings dropping 12.7 per cent on last year.
Beaten by Nine's Domestic Blitz and Seven's Dancing With The Stars in an earlier 6.30pm timeslot - with an average national audience of 1.29 million people - ratings across all key demographics took a hit.
Viewers aged 25-54 and those in the over 40 category tuned out, shedding 10.5 per cent and 20 per cent respectively on last year's audience figures.
Sandilands was last week dumped by Channel 10 in the wake of The Kyle and Jackie O Show radio rape scandal, where a 14-year-old girl was humiliated about her sex life in a live broadcast.
Channel 10 moved swiftly to distance itself from the drama, terminating Sandilands contract on the grounds his radio persona was increasingly at odds with the family values of the Idol brand.
However Sandilands appeared last night's episode and will feature in two more shows, which were recorded before the lie detector stunt on his radio show.
Sandilands and his sidekick are expected to return to the airwaves on August 17, after Austereo management put their program "into recess.''
The shock jock's hometown of Brisbane was the only city to support Idol's return, with an audience increase of 4.3 per cent.
A decision about the future of the pair and their morning radio show is expected to be announced tomorrow.
Kyle 'is to blame' says Guy Sebastian
GUY Sebastian says Kyle Sandilands has no one to blame except himself for being axed as an Australian Idol judge.
Sandilands was axed by Channel 10 after a 14-year-old revealed on his radio show that she had been raped.
"He is controversial and has created that brand, so it wasn't like someone went up to him and said, 'This is the person we want you to have and this is what we want you to do'," Sebastian, an Idol winner, said.
"He forged his own way to the top and so I guess it's pretty hard to say it's not his fault."
Sandilands' good friend and fellow Idol judge Ian Dickson would not enter into the controversy surrounding Ten's decision to dump the radio star, other than to say he had spoken to Sandilands. He said: "Kyle and I talk on the phone a lot and I think it's fair to describe us as friends.
"There is obviously a professional impact for the show and a personal impact and I don't think anyone likes to see their mates in strife and upset.
"But, to be honest, I don't think it's going to help the situation by airing my views."
Sandilands and his on-air radio partner, Jackie O, remain bunkered down in their Sydney homes and are believed to be frustrated by not being able to put their side of the story across.
Austereo is still deciding whether to axe the pair from the station.
In an apparent snub of controversial judge Kyle Sandilands, Sydney audiences in particular switched off the first audition episode, with ratings dropping 12.7 per cent on last year.Beaten by Nine's Domestic Blitz and Seven's Dancing With The Stars in an earlier 6.30pm timeslot - with an average national audience of 1.29 million people - ratings across all key demographics took a hit.
Viewers aged 25-54 and those in the over 40 category tuned out, shedding 10.5 per cent and 20 per cent respectively on last year's audience figures.
Sandilands was last week dumped by Channel 10 in the wake of The Kyle and Jackie O Show radio rape scandal, where a 14-year-old girl was humiliated about her sex life in a live broadcast.
Channel 10 moved swiftly to distance itself from the drama, terminating Sandilands contract on the grounds his radio persona was increasingly at odds with the family values of the Idol brand.
However Sandilands appeared last night's episode and will feature in two more shows, which were recorded before the lie detector stunt on his radio show.
Sandilands and his sidekick are expected to return to the airwaves on August 17, after Austereo management put their program "into recess.''
The shock jock's hometown of Brisbane was the only city to support Idol's return, with an audience increase of 4.3 per cent.
A decision about the future of the pair and their morning radio show is expected to be announced tomorrow.
Kyle 'is to blame' says Guy Sebastian
GUY Sebastian says Kyle Sandilands has no one to blame except himself for being axed as an Australian Idol judge.
Sandilands was axed by Channel 10 after a 14-year-old revealed on his radio show that she had been raped."He is controversial and has created that brand, so it wasn't like someone went up to him and said, 'This is the person we want you to have and this is what we want you to do'," Sebastian, an Idol winner, said.
"He forged his own way to the top and so I guess it's pretty hard to say it's not his fault."
Sandilands' good friend and fellow Idol judge Ian Dickson would not enter into the controversy surrounding Ten's decision to dump the radio star, other than to say he had spoken to Sandilands. He said: "Kyle and I talk on the phone a lot and I think it's fair to describe us as friends.
"There is obviously a professional impact for the show and a personal impact and I don't think anyone likes to see their mates in strife and upset.
"But, to be honest, I don't think it's going to help the situation by airing my views."
Sandilands and his on-air radio partner, Jackie O, remain bunkered down in their Sydney homes and are believed to be frustrated by not being able to put their side of the story across.
Austereo is still deciding whether to axe the pair from the station.
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