Ratings slip even further for CBC-TV's 'The One'

Despite much finger-crossing at CBC Television, its new reality show The One: Making a Music Star continued its dismal showing on the public airwaves. Viewership plunged further during the second week of the George Stroumboulopoulos-hosted show to 150,000 on Tuesday night, compared with 236,000 viewers it drew from 9 to 11 the previous week. The ratings winner of the musical-talent showdown Tuesday night was CTV's Canadian Idol (with 1.65-million viewers), while Global's Rock Star: Supernova delivered 1.28-million, according to Nielsen Media Research.

Industry watchers say CBC -- which simulcasts The One with ABC -- basically has three choices: cancel it, move it, or tough it out. "Just remember it's only week two," pointed out CBC spokesperson Ruth Ellen Soles, who added that The One is a 10-week series.

In the U.S., The One opened last week with about 3.08-million viewers, the smallest audience ever for a series premiere among the bigthree networks, according to Nielsen.