Buying time on 'American Idol'

It'll cost you - $1.3 million for a 30-second spot for tonight's finale, according to Ad Age, the same as last year. That's nowhere near the rate for a true programming event - say the Oscars, at $1.7 million, or the Super Bowl, at $2.3 million - but it's way higher than what the networks would normally charge for a popular prime time series. Advertisers plunk down the bucks because they know ratings will be huge - as will the post-show buzz. NBC and CBS aren't even trying to program anything competitive, although ABC is going with its two-hour season finale of "Lost." It's worth noting that "Idol" ratings have seen some erosion this season, probably the inevitable result of a show that's five years old.