FOX Working On Deal To Keep ‘American Idol’ On Air For Three More Seasons

First Published: December 24, 2009 12:23 PM EST Credit: WireImage

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Caption Simon Cowell shows off the thumbs up outside Fountain Studios, in Wembley, London, October 30, 2009While rumors abound that Simon Cowell will leave “American Idol” after its upcoming ninth season, which begins in January, FOX is reportedly set to keep the show going with or without the British judge.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, FOX is close to wrapping up a deal to keep the popular reality singing competition on the air for many more years.

The current agreement between the network and the two organizations that produce “Idol” — 19 Entertainment and FremantleMedia — runs through 2011, but the paper reported that the new deal could keep the show on for a minimum of three additional seasons.

But before a deal can be finalized and an announcement made, Simon has to reportedly sign a new contract with Sony, which owns his popular British reality singing competition, “X Factor,” a show the judge is hoping to bring stateside. Once that contract is finalized, Simon will be free to negotiate with FOX over “Idol.”

The paper reported that FOX is interested in having Simon on both “X Factor” and “Idol,” however other recent reports have suggested that FOX isn’t the only network in the running to bring “X Factor” stateside.

Additionally, Simon’s business partner Philip Green recently told GQ’s U.K. edition that the two wanted to launch “X Factor” in America on the Web.

While Simon himself has remained mum about his “Idol” future, his brother, Tony, told listeners of his weekly podcast, “The Cowell Factor,” that the British judge is definitely leaving the show.

“Simon prepares for a new season of ‘Idol’, or should I say, his last season of ‘Idol’,” Tony said on his podcast. “A press statement is being prepared which will confirm what everybody expected: Simon will leave ‘Idol’ at the end of 2010 to concentrate on bringing the American version of ‘X Factor’ to U.S. TV in 2011.”

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