The “American Idol” triumph of 17-year-old Jordin Sparks drew nearly 6 million fewer viewers than last year’s finale, in the latest sign that U.S. television’s highest-rated show may have finally hit its peak.

According to a final tally from Nielsen Media Research on Thursday, 30.7 million fans watched as the Arizona teenager was crowned the youngest champion at the end of the sixth installment of Fox network’s amateur singing contest.

The Wednesday night total is down 16 percent from the 36.4 million who tuned in to see gray-haired soul crooner Taylor Hicks claim victory at the conclusion of last year’s competition.

For the season as a whole, “American Idol” was down slightly in average overall audience compared with 2006, and off a bit more in ratings for viewers aged 18 to 49, the key young-adult crowd most prized by advertisers.

That marks the first year-to-year decline in the show’s Nielsen numbers since its 2002 inception, despite media hype and Internet buzz this year surrounding two contestants — the racy photos of Antonella Barba and the wacky-haired sensation stirred by Sanjaya Malakar.

Still, “American Idol” remains the most watched U.S. TV series overall, and the most highly rated in the 18-49 category for a fourth straight year, Fox said.

“This is far and away the biggest show on television and will continue to be the biggest show on television,” Fox network spokesman Scott Grogin said. “We’re looking forward to next season.”

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