Simon Cowell may bring The X-Factor to FOX after all

Simon Cowell's The X-Factor has been a huge in the UK for several years now; that's where we got Leona Lewis. Due to his contract with American Idol, he hasn't been able to bring it to the US. FOX feared the increased competition from a similar singing competition might hurt their juggernaut.

Now that Cowell is in the final year of his current contract, open negotiations to keep him on Idol are including talks of bringing The X-Factor to FOX. If So You Think You Can Dance continues to underperform in the fall, The X-Factor might be a logical replacement, pushing SYTYCD back to the summer.


Considering FOX has tried in the past to get a fall edition of American Idol, but they don't have enough pull on the show to force the issue. This would give them a programming alternative, and if it proves anywhere near as successful as Idol, they'd have a ratings tour de force throughout the regular season.

Interestingly, there might be room for a certain Ms. Paula Abdul on the judge's panel of an American X-Factor as well. It's all up in the air right now, including whether Cowell would judge on the show, or bring over his British co-horts Cheryl Cole and Louis Walsh. With American Idol slipping a bit in the ratings each year, but still the top show on television, it's a smart time for FOX to start looking for what could become the next big thing. In the UK that was The X-Factor. Could lightning strike twice?