'Idol' Expected To Remain With Fox Till 2014

FOX's

Simon Cowell may be leaving "American Idol" after this season, but an agreement is expected that will keep the show on Fox at least through 2014. Robert F.X. Sillerman, whose company owns rights to "Idol," said Tuesday the outline of a deal has been reached with Fox, though there is a minor hold-up.

The hitch is not related to finances, but an "on-air issue," which Sillerman declined to cite. It could be related to the future lineup of judges as Cowell, arguably the show's top draw, departs after the current season. That could negatively impact ratings.

Sillerman's company CKX approves the judges and agreed to a multiseason deal with Ellen DeGeneres, who recently joined the show. CKX is the parent of 19 Entertainment, which created "Idol" in Britain.

Sillerman and Simon Fuller, an "Idol" executive producer, will meet with Fox next week looking to conclude an extension that will lead to a 13th "Idol" season. Sillerman said it has been a "tortuously long" process and the deal should have been signed in September.

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Fox, however, has indicated it has been busy with other matters, such as signing a new deal with Cowell for the 2011 show "X Factor" that has caused a slowdown, Sillerman said.

FremantleMedia owns one-third of the "Idol" brand and is a party to the deal with Fox. Host Ryan Seacrest is signed through 2012 by CKX under a $45 million contract, although Fox may need to offset some of that.

Sillerman spoke Tuesday on an earnings call to report CKX results, where revenues overall were up 14% in 2009 -- but "American Idol"-related dollars, including on-air, fell amid the recession.

By one measure, "Idol" ratings are down notably this season. The Tuesday show's performance has fallen 16% in the 18-to-49 demo (to a 10.3) and dropped 12% in total viewers (to 27.2 million). On Wednesday, ratings have fallen in the key demo by 10% (to a 10.4) and total viewers are down 6% (to 27.5 million).

Still, the show remains the No. 1 performer on TV by a wide margin and has been on the air since 2002.

Fox, 19 and Fremantle may have to renegotiate their partnership to operate AmericanIdol.com over the next year, since the deal expires after the 2011 season, according to the CKX annual report. Fox runs the site and pays a fee to the other parties.

The three also have a revenue-sharing agreement for mobile distribution, including streaming video and ringtones, but dollars there have not been sufficient enough to trigger payments by Fox to 19 and Freemantle.

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