A News Corp. executive told an investor conference Thursday that FOX is optimistic that it can stop the aging American Idol’s ratings decline. The exec also said the show could last up to 17 seasons. (Via The Hollywood Reporter)
Speaking at the Nomura 2nd annual U.S. Media & Telecom Summit in New York, David Haslingden, president of the Fox Networks Group, said the network is “absolutely committed” to the music talent show, which has aired for 11 seasons. He vowed it would “throw all resources'” at improving its ratings again.
“This is still the number one non-sport show in the United States,” he emphasized though. “It’s delivering an average audience across this year’s 55 hours of 19 million people. This is a huge powerhouse show. So, I would say that any network executive in the country or probably in the world would love to be sitting up here, saying we have this franchise and we’re dealing with the fact that its ratings are off a bit.”
Calling it “an American staple” with “enormous” brand loyalty, Haslingden said that “we’re actually optimistic that we will arrest its ratings decline and this show is going to continue on.”
How long? “We are optimistic it’s going to continue on for 15, 16, 17 seasons,” he said.
Did Haslingden’s pull “17 seasons” out of his butt? I’m not sure why an exec would put an expiration date on a show they’d love to see last as long as possible.
One thing seems certain–between the newly christened Core Media Group’s vow to fix Idol’s problems, to FOX executives lamenting the changes weren’t made last season–the show appears to be in for some BIG changes. And I would not be surprised if the retooling started at the top, as in bye bye Nigel Lythgoe and Ken Warwick.
Nigel’s reflectance to embrace change can’t be sitting too well with executives at this point…
