Revealed in a new report published today, the network may start airing both The Voice and ‘Idol’ in the next year or two – depending on how negotiations with producers pan out.
The report, published by entertainment magazine Variety, says that the company that owns rights to American Idol has been trying to shop the show around to various networks in the recent weeks. Fremantle Media, the owner of the show, has long been rumored to be planning a comeback, but this new report is the first time they have been said to be “in talks” with a major network about a return.
American Idol ran from 2002 through 2016 for a consecutive fifteen seasons on Fox, but went through some tough times after ratings and viewer numbers declined following a huge peak in 2006. Overall, the show reigned in as one of the most successful television shows in the history of American television, however with steadily declining viewers and paying massive salaries to A-list talent like Jennifer Lopez, Fox chose to end it after the 15th season.
Some of the most popular and beloved talent today were discovered during various seasons of the show including Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Scotty McCreery, Lauren Alaina, Kellie Pickler, Chris Daughtry, Jennifer Hudson, Josh Gracin, Trent Harmon, and many more.
As the news outlet reports, representatives for NBC and Fremantle Media were not willing to issue a comment on the matter – as is common with media companies, especially if they are in the midst of negotiations.
The show’s longtime host, Ryan Seacrest, touched on the idea of a revival for the brand before the final ‘farewell’ season even had started.
During a press tour to promote the final season, Seacrest admitted, “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.”
NBC’s current singing competition, The Voice, has been airing for seven years and is preparing to start its 12th season this spring. Even it has seen ratings decline over the years, but remains a top-producer for the network.
While nothing has been confirmed by the network or the media company behind ‘Idol’, how they would go about showing two very similar shows remains to be seen. The network already shows The Voice and America’s Got Talent, so adding another could possibly create a scheduling issue for them.
We would love to see a return of this fan-favorite and loved show! Let us know if you feel the same way in the comments!