Audience up, despite 'Idol' TV gravity

But "Idol" TV defied gravity. After losing the steady audience share for the last years, it has the trend this season, vice versa WINS in total viewers for the first time since 2007.

While the profits are low; "Idol" is with an average of 25 million viewers this season, 1 percent higher than at the same time last season. But according to the standards of TV math, which decreases expected dies each year to a show, is the uptick. And there is reason, the News Corporation, Fox's to believe that the franchise continues to hundreds of millions of dollars for many years to generate.

The leadership, which has "Idol" on its competitors is also striking. It has a higher score 79 percent among 18-to 49-year old as the next largest show, "Modern family." That way of the gap never before experienced the demographic in TV history, Fox says, citing Nielsen data.

This kind of dominance suggests as if there is doubt that "Idol" defines a cultural fixture such as "60 minutes" or "Monday Night Football", or the evening news, one due to its reliable place where television schedule has become every year.

"Idol", which came from the United Kingdom to the United States, promotes a dream, Nigel Lythgoe, a British Executive producer, one day to the superstar on the next day describes as "the Burger flipper." his television network turned the show seemingly to the bitter Mr Cowell reviews of candidates. This season, it has benefited not only from two new judges, Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler, but also superstars emerging from an exceptionally strong slate.

The difference on the set is palpable. The new judge, together with Randy Jackson, the judge, who remained, have begun teaching and cheering on the young participants in a way that Mr Cowell rarely, if ever, in the public.

During rehearsals every Wednesday afternoon in this spring judges have sat on their familiar table in front of the stage and chatted with candidates before and after done. You have to stand and cheered after particularly memorable performances; You have high fived each other singer has improved.

Last Wednesday, after Stefano Langone, almost home of the week had been sent in, sang a rousing format variant of "End of the Road" Ms. Lopez called: "this is how you do it." Sing to win! Not to stay. Win! "Visitors to the Studio in the last year would see not this behavior." The judge never sat on samples, and while the TV shows rarely remained in their seats during the commercial breaks racing seize smoking, SMS or have their makeup and instead touches.

Now, they clap with Mr Lythgoe during breaks and wave of fans shouting for their attention, increasing the energy in the Studio. The long stage manager of Debbie Williams show while one called particularly rowdy commercial break last Wednesday "we are saving, not even on the air".

Some critics have this child, gentle "Idol" lambasted, but Mrs Lopez back said they shot last week could be hard because the candidates were "so damn good."

The Manager of the "Idol" machine knocking on wood or whatever hard surface which is available when the question of whether the show another has 10 seasons before it. But the sigh of relief are audible in this spring. When Mr Cowell "Idol" finished a year ago his British singing competition, "the X factor," import into the United States for Fox, it was a nail-biting moment. Mike Darnell, President of alternative entertainment for Fox, said his attitude was: "your star gone, so you to reinvent TV show need."

Reinvention is an advantage of reality, to enjoy the shows over script-driven. "As soon as they fall," Mr Darnell said scripted shows ratings, "it very difficult, if not impossible, it to invent."

There are only four scripted shows on network schedules now, the 10 or more seasons, "The Simpsons" on Fox, "law & order: special victims unit" have had on NBC, "CSI" on CBS and "Smallville" on the CW. But there is enough evidence that reality can be produced competitions and "Idol" - such as awards shows and sporting encounters - forever, as long as the players change. Now in its 21st season; is the unwritten "survivor" on CBS "The amazing race", is also on CBS, in his from the 18.

"As Yes, you have your bad seasons, the Academy Awards or the Super Bowl," Mr Darnell said recognition of bad reviews of "Idol" last season. "But people want to clear these show, love so if you them something to love, they will come back." As an "Idol" age is also his audience; While it is by 1 percent of this season among total viewers, it is 7% among 18-to 49 year olds. But the declines were even steeper last year.

The greatest threat to the dominance of the "Idol" now come from own network, when Mr. of Cowell's "X factor" starts in September. Executives say Fox "Idol" and "X factor" are very different shows, and note that they will be broadcast not at the same time of the year. But it remains to be seen whether viewers each year have the appetite for two blockbuster singing contests in a network.

"What is happening shows usually with no. 1," Tim Brooks, a historian warned television "is something else comes together that steals the spotlight."

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Despite Gulf oil spill rig gain own executives large bonuses

Transocean declared 2010 "the best year in security" in the company's history despite the oil spill Golf.Transocean executives receive pay raises, bonuses, SEC filing of SaysCash Awards claimed security RecordDespite Gulf oil spill, company based "Best year in security" in the part on company 2010

(CNN) --deklarieren 2010 "the best year in safety in the history of our company," Transocean Ltd., maker of the oil rig in Gulf of Mexico, the exploded, killing 11 workers, received the top executives of hefty bonuses and raises, according to a final account at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

These include $ 200,000 for Transocean President and Chief Executive Officer Steven L. Newman, whose Jahresgehalt of $900,000 1.1 million US dollars will increase, according to the SEC report a raise. Newman's bonus was $374,062, the report says.

Newman has also a 5.4 million US-dollar long-term compensation payments, which awarded the company after his appointment as CEO in March 2010, according to the SEC filing.

Based the latest cash awards part on the performance of the company "security," says Transocean submission.

"Notwithstanding the tragic loss of life in the Gulf of Mexico, we an exemplary statistical safety record reached interest rate, measured by our total recordable incident and total potential severity" the SEC statement reads. "These standards measured, we recorded the best year in safety in the history of our company."

Transocean President Steven L. Newman received a raise $ 200,000.

The company called the "a reflection of our commitment to achieve at any time, anywhere, a incident environment," record the SEC filing says.

The company did not respond to an E-mail from CNN seeks comment.

The April 20, 2010, 17 workers injured on the deepwater horizon rig explosion and killed 11 others, including nine Transocean employees, according to the SEC filing. It was the worst spill in US history called.

The fountain was limited to three months later, spilled but not before millions barrels of oil into the Gulf.

President Barack Obama National Commission for the BP deepwater horizon oil spill and offshore drilling published in January a report, the blame for the accident under Transocean, BP-leased the Rig-and Halliburton, the the rig cement casing installed to spread.

The Commission has problems with deepwater drilling are "systemic" and, that only "important reform" prevents a further disaster.

Another March 23 published report found that a piece of the Prestige oil spill drill pipe in the platform rig blowout preventer to stop a machine oil of flows captured caused in the Gulf. The report was of various U.S. provide, among other things the Interior Department and the Department of homeland security given in order.

The Interior Department has a much broader report said, which relies on additional data sources-including eye-witness accounts and exhibition-will be published this summer.

The oil spill caused a flood of lawsuits against BP, Transocean and Halliburton from a variety of plaintiffs, including owner of Gulf Coast company, who claim that they suffered heavy financial losses due to the spill.

The plaintiffs also Transocean shareholders who claim the company falsely claimed that past had fixed security issues with its blowout blowout, before the Gulf spill.

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