Superstar
11-29-2005, 05:25 PM
All parties agree to look past differences and let Americans revel in glorious song.
The Idols will croon on. The producers of American Idol said on Tuesday they reached a deal with the Fox television network for up to six more seasons of the broadcaster's ratings mainstay.
CKX Inc. owns 19 Entertainment, the British creator of the hit prime-time talent show. The company said it reached a joint agreement with producer FremantleMedia, Fox, Idol celebrity judge Simon Cowell and record label Sony BMG to continue the series for four more seasons with an option to renew for an additional two seasons.
Cowell has agreed to stay on for at least five more seasons, beginning with the next installment of the series in January.
CKX said producers will receive a "significantly increased" license fee from Fox in line with the higher advertising rates set for the coming season.
News Corp-owned Fox will build a dedicated Web site for the show, fed by content from 19 Entertainment and FremantleMedia. The production companies also have granted Fox wireless rights to Idol material, including show-related ringtones and video footage, CKX said.
Fox also will pick up at least two original shows created jointly by 19 Entertainment and FremantleMedia in the next five years. Sony BMG remains the official record label for American Idol winners.
19 Entertainment said it also settled a lawsuit with Cowell over the acerbic judge's British-based program The X Factor. 19 Entertainment CEO and British pop mogul Simon Fuller has said Cowell's show was a rip-off of his Idol concept.
Terms of the settlement were not disclosed.
http://www.tv.com/story/story.html&story_id=2516
The Idols will croon on. The producers of American Idol said on Tuesday they reached a deal with the Fox television network for up to six more seasons of the broadcaster's ratings mainstay.
CKX Inc. owns 19 Entertainment, the British creator of the hit prime-time talent show. The company said it reached a joint agreement with producer FremantleMedia, Fox, Idol celebrity judge Simon Cowell and record label Sony BMG to continue the series for four more seasons with an option to renew for an additional two seasons.
Cowell has agreed to stay on for at least five more seasons, beginning with the next installment of the series in January.
CKX said producers will receive a "significantly increased" license fee from Fox in line with the higher advertising rates set for the coming season.
News Corp-owned Fox will build a dedicated Web site for the show, fed by content from 19 Entertainment and FremantleMedia. The production companies also have granted Fox wireless rights to Idol material, including show-related ringtones and video footage, CKX said.
Fox also will pick up at least two original shows created jointly by 19 Entertainment and FremantleMedia in the next five years. Sony BMG remains the official record label for American Idol winners.
19 Entertainment said it also settled a lawsuit with Cowell over the acerbic judge's British-based program The X Factor. 19 Entertainment CEO and British pop mogul Simon Fuller has said Cowell's show was a rip-off of his Idol concept.
Terms of the settlement were not disclosed.
http://www.tv.com/story/story.html&story_id=2516