Forbes: TV's 15 Biggest Moneymakers

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.