The best days may still be ahead for Jordin Sparks, but the same may not be said for American Idol.
The 30.7 million people who watched Sparks win last week reflected a sharp drop from the 36.4 million people who saw Taylor Hicks in last year's finale, according to Nielsen Media Research.
Industry observers said chances are that the 2006 season will stand as the peak for audience interest. A lackluster pool of contestants, the general malaise among viewers this spring and the simple laws of TV gravity are all factors.
"People are getting tired of it," said Marc Berman, an analyst for Media Week Online. "I know I am."
Mind you, most TV shows would kill for this kind of "bad news." The Fox phenomenon was still TV's most popular program this season. Barring a major surprise, it will be again next year.
For the first half of this season, ratings outstripped last year. But when water-cooler favorite Sanjaya Malakar was voted off in April, much of the interest left with him.
"The competition down at the end didn't have the excitement that it had in years past," said Tim Brooks, author of The Complete Directory to Prime-Time Network and Cable Television. "It's kind of a rehash to viewers."
Producers have tweaked the show to keep it fresh, this season adding a songwriters' contest and charity drive for those starving in Africa.
The long hiatus each year has also kept interest keen. American Idol won't be back for new episodes until next January.
However, producers have agreed to make a spinoff for Fox, a band contest instead of one for individual singers, that will air Fridays in the fall.
While Berman said it's likely to fail in the same way that American Juniors did, the spinoff still represents a risk in diluting the brand.
"I would steer clear of it," he said.
'Idol' on a slide
Viewers of American Idol's finale slipped this year compared to some previous years.
Year Viewers (millions)
• 2003 38.0
• 2004 28.8
• 2005 30.3
• 2006 36.4
• 2007 30.7
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