'X-Factor' Premiere Hits Ratings Worst with Simon Cowell, Demi Lovato & Company

"The X Factor" premiered on FOX last night and the ratings were not favorable. The Season 3 premiere found itself with the lowest TV audience dropping to just 6.2 million total viewers and a 2.1 rating among the viewers ages 18 to 49.

Two seasons ago the show premiered to double the number of viewers at 12.7 million. Last season premiered with 8.4 million. 

 "Big Brother" on CBS (2.2) and "Master Chef" (2.4) on FOX after "The X Factor" beat it out. 

Britney Spears did not return to the judges table this season. The judges for "The X Factor" Season 4 are Simon Cowell, Demi Lovato, Kelly Rowland and Paulina Rubio. 

It is too early after one episode to see what the talent will be like on this years competition, but in previous seasons the over-busy stage lighting and huge side screens have almost been more distracting then helpful to the contestants performances. If "The X Factor" can produce a star that moves on to a success career then it might give the show more years of life. 

"American Idol" has been dying a slow ratings death for several years now as well which premieres Season 13 in January. You can't blame it on their talent last season as they might have had their strongest Top 3 ever with Candice Glover, Kree Harrison and Angie Miller and ratings were still dropping. So this does not bode well going into Season 13 for ratings to improve any. 

The only singing competition on television that is really moving the needle anymore is "The Voice" on NBC which has Season 4 kick off later this month. 

"The Voice" has hit the right formula of entertainment, judging chemistry and great talent. The shows last two winners Cassadee Pope (Season 3) and Danielle Bradbery (Season 4) are having very successful post show careers so they are now producing real music industry talent which is always the toughest thing to produce in these TV singing shows. 

Check out all of the latest news on "The X Factor" at their official website here.