To determine which TV series generate the most money, Forbes turned to TNS Media Intelligence, a division of Taylor Nelson Sofres that tracks ad spending. The New York-based firm provided the magazine with networks' asking price, as of Jan. 31, for the season's 100 most-watched, regularly scheduled shows on prime time. For an apples-to-apples comparison of programs of differing lengths, the shows are ranked based on ad revenue per average half-hour.
As you can see, the number of viewers isn't always the deciding factor in the ranking. Having the "right" viewers helps too.
1. AMERICAN IDOL, Fox
Revenue per 30 minutes: $7 million
Average cost of a 30-second ad: $623,000
Viewers: 25.6 million
2. 24, Fox
Revenue per 30 minutes: $3.7 million
Average cost of a 30-second ad: $366,000
Viewers: 11.7 million
3. DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES, ABC
Revenue per 30 minutes: $2.9 million
Average cost of a 30-second ad: $251,000
Viewers: 15.2 million
4. GREY'S ANATOMY, ABC
Revenue per 30 minutes: $2.7 million
Average cost of a 30-second ad: $224,000
Viewers: 13.4 million
5. TWO AND A HALF MEN, CBS
Revenue per 30 minutes: $2.6 million
Average cost of a 30-second ad: $227,000
Viewers: 14.1 million
6. DANCING WITH THE STARS: RESULTS, ABC
Revenue per 30 minutes: $2.5 million
Average cost of a 30-second ad: $205,000
Viewers: 16.8 million
7. DANCING WITH THE STARS, ABC
Revenue per 30 minutes: $2.4 million
Average cost of a 30-second ad: $196,000
Viewers: 19.8 million
8. HEROES, NBC
Revenue per 30 minutes: $2.1 million
Average cost of a 30-second ad: $194,000
Viewers: 7.9 million
9. BROTHERS AND SISTERS, ABC
Revenue per 30 minutes: $2.1 million
Average cost of a 30-second ad: $195,000
Viewers: 10.1 million
10. SURVIVOR: GABON, CBS
Revenue per 30 minutes: $2.1 million
Average cost of a 30-sec ad: $204,000
Viewers: 12.9 million
11. CSI, CBS
Revenue per 30 minutes: $2.1 million
Average cost of a 30-sec ad: $201,000
Viewers: 18.2 million
12. EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME EDITION, ABC
Revenue per 30 minutes: $2 million
Average cost of a 30-second ad: $169,000
Viewers: 10.5 million
13. WORST WEEK, CBS
Revenue per 30 minutes: $2 million
Average cost of a 30-second ad: $174,000
Viewers: 9.3 million
14. HOUSE, Fox
Revenue per 30 minutes: $1.9 million
Average cost of a 30-second ad: $188,000
Viewers: 11.9 million
15. PRIVATE PRACTICE, ABC
Revenue per 30 minutes: $1.8 million
Average cost of a 30-second ad: $162,000
Viewers: 8.5 million
Link: Forbes.
I would not have expected 24 in 2nd place. It's nice to see how many serials are in there. Sort of goes against the idea that continuing drama is dead.
ReplyDeleteIs there any way we could figure out what the dollar equivalents are for soaps? This would be a piece of journalism that might REALLY shed some light on things...