It hasn’t even been 2 years since American Idol had its farewell season on FOX but the music competition showcase is already poised for a comeback. ABC has officially closed a deal with FremantleMedia North America and CORE Media Group’s 19 Entertainment for a revival of the singing competition series. The network just announced that American Idol will return for the 2017-2018 season, two seasons after the series ended its 15-season run on Fox in April 2016. A host and judges will be announced at a later time.
Promising a “bigger, bolder and better-than-ever Idol,” Ben Sherwood, co-chairman, Disney Media Networks and President, Disney|ABC, mused, “American Idol on ABC… that has a nice ring to it. Idol is an entertainment icon, and now it will air where it belongs, in ABC’s lineup of addictive fan favorites alongside Dancing With the Stars and The Bachelor.”
Idol producers FMNA and CMG/19 Entertainment and creator Simon Fuller started talking about a new installment even before the series had wrapped its final season in April 2016. There were feelers sent out last summer, and Fox, which had a first negotiation right, was pitched. I hear the producers back then offered the same format for the show at the high price point at the end of its run, making it a tough proposition for the network, which felt it was too soon to bring Idol back without significant reinvention. Next, there were on-and-off conversations with ABC. NBC then engaged in negotiations with the production companies about reviving Idol, and Fox soon jumped back into the fray. Then recently, in the run-up to a potential writers strike, ABC got involved in the mix. The two sides were near the finish line when Fox came back with a serious offer but the deal ultimately closed at ABC.
ABC has in the extended corporate family Idol host Ryan Seacrest, who just was named co-host and executive producer of the syndicated Live With Kelly & Ryan, produced by WABC-TV and distributed by Disney/ABC. Seacrest, who is now based in New York, had not been part of the Idol negotiations and had not been formally approached yet about possible involvement in the proposed Idol revival before the deal was made. He is currently focused on Live and his daily radio show, but has expressed publicly his affection for the TV show that made him a star, so he would likely be open to it if scheduling permits.
