Ratings Battle: The X Factor vs. The Voice, Who Came On Top?

Update with news via TVLine: It appears both shows averaged a 3.3 demo rating, tying each other to a T. However, during 8pm hour, THE VOICE did, in fact, best The X FACTOR with their 3.3 demo to X Factor’s 2.7. As for total audience numbers, THE VOICE bested The X FACTOR there as well, raking in 10.5 million to X FACTOR’S 7.5 million.

Ever since NBC announced that The Voice would extend it’s premiere week by one more special hour on Wednesday night, everyone wondered which show will come out on top over the other. The Voice’s fourth hour of the blind auditions this week was going up against The X Factor’s first hour. With the hype surrounding the X Factor and it’s new judges, Britney & Demi, no one really knew what would happen. Simon Cowell was none to pleased, calling NBC out on the unprofessional move with every opportunity he got, destroying what he felt was a mutual agreement about sharing viewers this season.

Preliminary overnight ratings, via Marc Berman, are in and we’re still waiting for final official numbers, but based on prelim numbers …. THE VOICE came out on top. Fox did actually lead the night overall with a 6.7/11 share. However, compared to the show’s first season premiere last year, the numbers were DOWN 23%. The Voice’s one-hour special episode bested (by 20%) the first hour of The X Factor (6.1/10) with its 7.3/13 share. Elsewhere, Big Brother finished 3rd in the 8pm hour.

We’ll update this post as more numbers come in.