Paula Abdul might be out of the equation, but all indications are that leading judge Simon Cowell will remain with “American Idol” for the next few years.
According to a THR report, 19 Entertainment parent company CKX confirmed that Cowell is finalizing a deal to stay with the show through 2012 (the show’s eleventh season).
“We’ve heard from Fox, who has asked us for approval for Simon Cowell to appear for three more years on ‘Idol,’ ” said CKX chairman Robert Sillerman. “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.”
Terms of the likely deal, which Cowell makes directly with FOX, were not disclosed, but industry reports estimate it is in the range of $45 million a year, up from the $36 million covered by his current contract. While that is significantly lower than the $100-144 million annual fee a June gossip rumor claimed would be offered, it is several times the payout for other judges.
The offer Abdul rejected, for instance, would have annually paid in the $5 million ballpark, according to the latest reports. That figure was a raise from the fee she received for her work on the previous eight seasons of “Idol.”
