I thought the UK ‘American Idol’ was called “Pop Idol”. Then what’s X Factor? Does Simon work on that simultaneously with AI, or are their seasons offest? What’s the Dope on all the world wide Idol Shows? And is that type of show Number 1 in every country that has one?? There should be a Universal Idol contest or something where they all go at it… in the octagon!
‘X factor’ is a similar format but more inclusive, allowing participants of any age, and duos or groups.
They are IMO the offest programmes on television. Participating in karaoke is fun when drunk. Watching it when sober is torture.
Yes, the UK Idol was called Pop Idol. X Factor is a later show developed by Cowell.
There was much heated negotiating between Fox and Cowell over this last year. The following are the main points, taken from a November 2005 report on Jossip.com
• Cowell started his own Idol-like show in Britain, called X-Factor
• American Idol and (British version) Pop Idol creator Simon Fuller is none too pleased, filing a lawsuit claiming copyright infringement
• Cowell’s current contract doesn’t give him the default right to sign this season’s American Idol winner to his record label, as has been the case in seasons past. He’d like to change that
• If Fox doesn’t mean Cowell’s demands, he’s got plenty of motivation to sell an American version of X-Factor (starring him) to Fox’s competitors. NBC and ABC have already shown interest
• Fox wants any new deal to include a clause preventing Cowell from selling an American X-Factor and first rights to pick it up if they so choose
• None of the parties want to see this go to trial, which was set to start today if a settlement wasn’t reached.
Clearly, an amicable settlement was eventually reached!