TV's Biggest Moneymakers

"Two and a Half Men"

Warner Bros.

When it comes to selling ads, it's pretty hard to beat "American Idol." Every year, three times per week, the show attracts millions of fans who sit glued to their televisions, watching and judging in real time. This isn't the kind of show you can watch two days later.

 

And that's why it earns the big bucks. In 2010, "American Idol" brought in $7.11 million for News Corp.'s Fox network every half hour. That was actually down 12% from 2009, but it was enough to land the show at the top of our annual list of TV's Biggest Moneymakers, way ahead of the closest competition.

 

Last year was a rough one for the show. New judge Ellen DeGeneres didn't do much to stem criticism that the show was going downhill. Simon Cowell seemed positively giddy to take off. Impressively, "American Idol" didn't completely fall apart when Cowell left. New judges Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez are holding their own. The show can still attract 24 million viewers, according to The Nielsen Company.

via ca.tv.yahoo.com