Although American Idol can still boast the most expensive ad rates of all television shows, including Sunday Night Football, the rates are significantly lower than they were in the show’s ratings heyday.
Idol currently costs advertisers $467, 617 for its Tuesday night performance show, and $400, 546 for it’s Wednesday night results show.
But back in 2007, when Season 6 premiered with 37.4 million viewers, the highest ratings the show has ever seen during a non-finale broadcast, a 30 second spot cost 620, 000.
The rates climbed even higher during 2008. Season 7 ran during a writers strike. So, while ad rates began at about $750, 000 for a 30 second spot, it climbed to 1.3 million as the show’s finale drew closer.
The days of 30m viewers per episode is over, unless Season 10 changes the game drastically. So, while Idol’s place at the the top of the ad heap is nice PR spin, it’s less impressive when compared to the show’s halcyon years.
Also notable: Glee commands $272, 694 per spot in the fall, $373, 014 in the spring and is an impressive #3 on the list. Dancing with the Stars didn’t even make the Top 10. Check out the entire top 10 after the jump.
1. American Idol (Tuesday/Weds Encore) FOX – $467, 617/ $400, 546
2. Sunday Night Football NBC – $415, 000
3. Glee (Tuesdays, Fall/ Weds, Spring) FOX – $272, 694/$373, 014
4. Family Guy (Sundays) FOX – $259, 289
5. The Simpsons (Sundays) FOX – $253, 170
6. House (Mondays) FOX – $226, 180
7. Grey’s Anatomy (Thursdays) ABC – $222, 113
8. The Office (Thursdays) NBC – $213, 617
9. Desperate Housewives (Sundays) ABC – $210, 064
10. Two and A Half Men (Mondays) CBS – $206, 722
