Cowell, the stern judge of the top-rated FOX show, is reportedly on the verge of signing a multimillion-dollar deal that will ensure the British music mogul’s spot on the “American Idol” judges’ panel for the next three seasons.
New contract negotiations for Cowell
While auditions for the ninth season of "American Idol" are in progress, Cowell, who is heading into the final year of his contract, is busy in finalizing a deal with Fox to continue on the show, according to a report from Hollywood Reporter.
The report says that Cowell is wrapping up negotiations to stay on the show through 2011. Although, financial details of Cowell's deal with Fox are not yet revealed, but it is believed under the new contract Cowell could earn up to $45 million, a bit of a jump from his current $36 million.
"We've heard from Fox, who has asked us for approval for Simon Cowell to appear for three more years on 'Idol,'" ABC News quoted Robert Sillerman, Chairman and CEO of CKX, parent company of "Idol" co-producer 19 Entertainment, as saying.
Sillerman further said: "They, in their negotiations with Cowell, have asked us to pre-approve him not only for 'American Idol' '09, which has begun taping, but they have also asked us for approval for '10 and '11, indicating to us that they're finishing their negotiation with Cowell. We did grant approval for that, quite obviously."
Cowell, who also stars in Britain's "Got Talent" and "The X Factor", had previously hinted that he would leave the show once his current contract is up at the end of this season.
In April, he hinted: "Most people do one show a year and I do three. One is in America and two are in England and they involve a lot of travelling. One may have to go. I guess America is the most likely."
Abdul’s exit from the show
Last week Paula Abdul quit the show over salary row. The Californian singer/choreographer reportedly was seeking more than $10 million a year but was offered about half that.
The news of Cowell’s new Idol deal comes a month after the show host Ryan Seacrest signed new contract extension with the network that triples his salary. The 34-year-old award-winning television and radio host/television producer and entrepreneur Ryan has signed a three-year $45 million contract early this month with CKX Inc.
With new three-year $45 million or $15 million-per-season deal, Ryan, who has hosted the FOX reality show American Idol since its inception in 2002, has tripled his $5 million-per-season salary he earned in the Idol's eighth season.
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