The splashy season ender of American Idol predictably came out on top during May sweeps on CTV and Fox, though numbers are down from last year – as was the case with many other big-ticket finales in May including Survivor, Grey’s Anatomy and House.

The season eight finale of Idol nabbed 2.6 million viewers on Wednesday, when Arkansas native Kris Allen won a recording contract and bragging rights over judges’ favorite Adam Lambert. The two-hour finale included guest performances by Rod Stewart, Kiss, Carlos Santana and the Black Eyed Peas. (All numbers 2+.)

The number is down from last year’s 3.1 million who tuned in to see David Cook win. The story is the same in the US, where Idol grabbed 28 million viewers, compared to 31 million in 2008, according to Variety.

On Tuesday, Idol‘s last performance show averaged 2.3 million at 8 pm, airing opposite the finale of NCIS on Global, which clocked in at 1.7 million.

Meanwhile, the two-hour season finale of Global actioner 24 at 8 pm on May 18 held steady at 1.2 million viewers, on par with its season seven average. The night belonged to CSI: Miami, however, which bowed out with 1.8 million viewers at 10 pm, preceded by comedy Two and a Half Men with 1.6 million viewers for its finale on CTV.

From Playback Daily