Forbes announced that after eight seasons in, American Idol host Paula Abdul is out.
The Idol judge announced via Twitter that she’s leaving Fox’s ratings juggernaut after negotiations broke down over finances. The famously loopy star, 47, was reportedly seeking a raise that would make her $12 million a year, or triple her current salary.
“With sadness in my heart, I’ve decided not to return to Idol,” she said to her 800,000-plus followers on Twitter. “I’ll miss nurturing all the new talent, but most of all being a part of a show that I helped from day one become an international phenomenon.”
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Ryan Seacrest is Fox’s 45 Million-Dollar Man.
$45 Million to get his host on….. LORD have mercy, you got to be kidding me!
If this is the kind of $$$ thats getting thrown around for tv then I’m in the wrong business, you feel me! This is mind boggling right here; check out the details of the deal that was reported by sources below:
The “American Idol” host has closed a new three-year deal with “Idol” producer 19 Entertainment, said to be worth $15 million a year. Under the pact, which is believed to be the richest ever for a reality host, Seacrest is locked in as host of “Idol” through 2012.
Additionally, Seacrest will work with “Idol” creator and 19 principal Simon Fuller on developing new projects.
“Ryan is an essential ingredient to ‘American Idol’s’ success, and I am so happy that we will continue our relationship beyond ‘Idol’ into the future,” Fuller said. “Ryan is without a doubt one of American television’s most talented stars.”
Under the agreement, Seacrest will be exclusive to 19 and parent company CKX in broadcast TV primetime for his hosting services. Seacrest has a separate cable deal with Comcast and is E! Entertainment’s lead anchor. He also produces such shows as E!’s “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” and ABC’s upcoming Jamie Oliver reality series.
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Other than Simon and a young lady by the name of Elisabeth that American Idol would be a hit. Who would ever think that Fox, along with other networks, initially rejected American Idol. But due to a young lady by the name of Elisabeth the daughter of Rupert Murdoch, head of Fox’s parent company, who was a fan of the British version Pop Idol decided to pick up the show and it has since grown into a phenomenon which is valued at $2.5 Billion. Its funny how things work out sometime if you don’t succeed try and try again. You never know your idea may turn into several hundred million dollar brand, or not lollll but still try.
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Reported by Sources The latest American Idol winner has been revealed. In a shock result, viewers of the massively popular TV show plumped for the smooth vocals and boy-next-door image of Kris Allen over theatrical powerhouse Adam Lambert, leaving the stunned winner to comment: “I’m sorry, I don’t even know what to feel right now… this is crazy.”
Judge Simon Cowell tipped his hat to both contestants, saying: “To both of you, and I don’t normally mean this, I thought you were both brilliant… the future’s all yours.”
Among the guests were many established music stars including Rod Stewart, Queen, Carlos Santana, the Black-Eyed Peas, Cyndi Lauper, Lionel Richie and Kiss. “Adam did win. So did Kris. Nobody lost tonight. These are two champions,” said Kiss guitarist Paul Stanley. Earlier this week, Kris said he hoped the outcome wouldn’t be decided by “having the Christian vote”.
Kris rose to the occasion during Tuesday’s performance show, especially with his soulful version of Ain’t No Sunshine. But he was tripped up by No Boundaries, a power ballad song co-written by judge Kara DioGuardi and ill-suited to his voice. Adam did a better job with No Boundaries and excelled on his reprise of Mad World and on A Change is Gonna Come.
“That was the best I’ve ever heard you sing, ever!” exclaimed Paula Abdul.But it wasn’t good enough for American Idol voters, who went for Kris the following evening when he was joined by Keith Urban on Kiss a Girl, while Adam stomped for a pyrotechnic performance with Kiss.
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Fueled by all the things that make a entertainment show-down a fanfavorite American Idol’s last men standing Adam Lambert the simi-glam rocker and Kris Allen the pop rock musician went head to head for the 2009 AI crown and win the $1 million recording contract. Highlights form last nights performances are below, and stay tuned tonight to see who will take the crown.
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The international television phenomenon American Idol is the perfect example of how to build out a brand. According to a recent Forbes story about the Top 15 money-earning shows in prime time, the “Idol” broadcasts bring in $7 million per 30 minutes.
Despite losing viewers in each of the last three years, “American Idol,” still the top-rated series on television, is generating ever-growing profits for its creators and, it appears, for Fox Broadcasting through brand extensions, marketing arrangements and licensing fees.
The deals, which include products as disparate as ice cream and trading cards, as well as the more familiar partnerships with iTunes and AT&T, have driven tremendous growth in the profitability of “American Idol,” according to the public financial statements of the parent of 19 Entertainment, the company founded by Simon Fuller, the creator of the show. Those financial statements include documents that break down how revenue is split among Fox, 19 Entertainment and FremantleMedia, the production company behind the show.
“They are just raking in the money, hand over fist,” said Brad Adgate, a senior vice president for research at Horizon Media. “There are certain things that ‘American Idol’ does not do well, like selling DVDs. But the whole industry is moving toward a different model where deciding whether something is a hit or not is not just based on how much you charge for 30 seconds of advertising.”
While everyone in television, from Ben Silverman, the co-chairman of NBC, to the youth-centric programmers at MTV, is trying to find ways to increase profits as television audiences decline, “American Idol” is taking its cues not from the traditional broadcasting playbook but from the NFL. “We have learned the lessons of the sports leagues in that they have all these ancillary revenue streams,” said Robert F. X. Sillerman, chief executive of CKX Inc., the parent of 19 Entertainment. “And frankly, we’re just beginning.” David Lunar, a senior vice president for interactive and consumer products at FremantleMedia, which produces the program in partnership with 19 Entertainment, said this year that the company had experienced “eight straight years of growth” in licensing and merchandising.
Source: NYtimes.com
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Expanding their brand A.I. is getting into the trading card biz. “American Idol” fans will soon be able to trade Carrie Underwoods for Danny Gokeys.
“Idol” production company FremantleMedia and trading card publisher Upper Deck are launching a new line of trading cards featuring images of past and current contestants as well as the judges and host of the Fox singing competition. The 138-card line is set to debut April 21.
“The ‘American Idol’ brand has always been really strong in the interactive space,” said Nora Wong, FremantleMedia senior manager of consumer products.
“With the trading cards, it’s an old school way of interacting with the fans. It’s another form of expression for the fans to demonstrate their connection with the show and collect their favorites.”
Six special cards autographed by past “Idols” will be randomly slipped into the five-card packs. Regular cards will feature rejected hopefuls such as William Hung and Nick Mitchell, past winners like Ruben Studdard and David Cook, and popular finalists including Adam Lambert and Jennifer Hudson.
Source: Billboard Biz
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