JUST IN: NBC in Talks to Resurrect AMERICAN IDOL!

By: Feb. 09, 2017
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Variety reports exclusively that NBC is in discussions with Fremantle Media to revive the FOX former juggernaut AMERICAN IDOL. Sources report that the Peacock Network has been pitched a revival of the long-running singing competition by producer Fremantle and is now considering how to integrate the show into its programming line up. The network's current singing competition, THE VOICE, may wind up being chiseled down from two cycles per year to one.

The site reports that Fremantle has been "shopping" a revival of the series in recent weeks, with NBC becoming the lead contender to revive the series. Sources stress that talks are ongoing, and no deal has been signed. Representatives for NBC and Fremantle declined to comment.

"American Idol" ran on FOX for 15 seasons beginning in 2002. In it's heyday, the series averaged a 12.4 rating among in the 18-49 demographic and 36.4 million total viewers, according to Nielsen live-plus-same day numbers. Beginning wth Season 7, ratings began to decline steeply. The final season, which aired in 2016 averaged a 2.2 and 9.1 million viewers.

Speaking at the Television Critics Association winter press tour in 2016, the show's longtime host Ryan Seacrest revealed, "When you've got a franchise that has this kind of heritage and you've got a franchise that generates X amount of millions of people, if it sustains, does that mean it's the end? I'm not so sure."

Read the story in full HERE.



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