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‘American Idol’ Highest Price Regular Season Ad Buy

American Idol has been the No. 1 show among adults 18-49 for three seasons running, and has yet to soften. With the new season about to air tonight, media buyers are wondering whether the show can sustain its ratings, pushing Fox once again to a first place in the demo.

Interestingly, the success has put Fox in a strange place, according to Media Life: if the network’s show grows any more, advertisers may be priced out of commercial slots.

This year, a 30-second spot will average more than $600,000, according to AdAge. That makes it the highest priced regular season commercial buy, followed by ABC’s Desperate Housewives at a reported $394,000 per spot.

Last season, Fox reportedly charged $1.3 million per 30-second ad for the finale in May.
The audience for the show is an affluent one, with the median household income at $60,000.

American Idol is also one of the top shows in terms of product placement, with 446 minutes last year, up 12 percent over the previous year.

If ratings for American Idol Rewind, a syndicated show made up of previously aired footage with new content, are any indication, the show will once again be a smashing success.