'Idol' spots are breaking the bank

Heading into it's 5th season, FOX's "American Idol" had hit a mile stone for network TV: a record high price tag for a 30 second commerical unit. For the new fall season, the cost of a 30 second spot has SURPASSED the $700,000 mark! That's first for any network program. Ever.

This is the second season in a row where American Idol has taken the award for most expensive advertising. And rightly so. It was the highest rated show of the 2004-2005 season across most metrics including adults 18-29, the most coveted demographic out there.

Cingular Wireless, Cocoa-Cola, and Ford (last years heavy-weight advertisers) are back again this year after having renewed their sponsorships.

The 2005-2006 season will be the 3rd in a row in which the most expensive network series is a reality show. Two years ago, "Survivor" topped the list with a price tag of $425,000. That last time a scripted-entertainment series (sitcom or drama) was the pricest show was during 2002-2003 when "Friends" too in $420,000 per 30 second unit. And people talked then about how that was a crazy amount.

Here's a breakdown of the average cost of a 30 second spot during network primetime:

::CBS::
-CSI: = $465,000
-Survivor: $350,000
-CSI: Miami: $295,000
-Two & a Half Men: $293,000
-The Amazing Race: $275,000

::NBC::
-ER: $400,000
-The Apprentice: $350,000
-The Apprentice: Martha Stewart: $310,000
-Medium: $270,000
-My Name is Earl: $220,000

::ABC::
-Desperate Housewives: $560,000
-Grey's Anatomy: $440,000
-Lost: $380,000
-Monday Night Football: $375,000
-Extreme Makeover: Home Edition: $355,000

::FOX::
-American Idol (wednesday): $705,000
-American Idol (tuesday): $660,000
-The Simpsons: $390,000
-24: $360,000
-House: $256,000

So, for every commerical you see, that's what's being spent depending on what you're watching. Man, I'm in the wrong business.