American Idol is Top TV Money Maker of 2009

By Rickey ·

American Idol is the most profitable show on TV in 2009 according to Forbes. Idol earned $16 million per hour. Will it all come crashing down to a halt next season with Simon leaving? Let's hope not!

I'm glad we covered 5 of the 10 most profitable shows on TV last year: Idol, V, Lost, Survivor and Dancing with the Stars. If only I could get our contributing editors to write (and rave) about the other shows.

1. American Idol

Fox
Revenue Per 30 Minutes: $8.1 million

2. Two and a Half Men

CBS
Revenue Per 30 Minutes: $3.1 million

3. 24

Fox
Revenue Per 30 Minutes: $3 million

4. Grey's Anatomy

ABC
Revenue Per 30 Minutes: $2.8 million

5. V

ABC
Revenue Per 30 Minutes: $2.8 million (4 episodes only)

6. Desperate Housewives

ABC
Revenue Per 30 Minutes: $2.7 million

7. Dancing With The Stars

ABC
Revenue Per 30 Minutes: $2.56 million*

8. Lost

ABC
Revenue Per 30 Minutes: $2.53 million

9. Survivor

CBS
Revenue Per 30 Minutes: $2.22 million

10. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

CBS
Revenue Per 30 Minutes: $2.07 million

Via TVbytheNumbers
Source Forbes

American Idol