American Idol`s worst viewing figures for 10 years

The latest series aired without Simon Cowell, who had been sitting at the judges' table since the show started 10 years ago. Also missing were fellow judges Ellen DeGeneres and Kara DioGuardi.

The trio have been replaced by Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler and singer and actress Jennifer Lopez, who join remaining judge Randy Jackson on the panel and Ryan Seacrest as host.

The 10th season of American Idol premiered last week with a two-hour episode that averaged 26.23 million viewers, the fewest for the singing competition's season premiere since its first season and 12.4 percent less than the 2010 season premiere.

And the viewership for the second American Idol episode was down even further. It was 13.2 per cent lower than last year's second episode at 22.9 million viewers.