X Factor on the horizon again

By David Knox on February 26, 2010 / Filed Under News 26

The X Factor could be headed back to Australian television according to a report in today’s Daily Telegraph.

Nine’s director of production and development Andrew Backwell, Seven programmer Tim Worner and Sony Music chief Dennis Handlin have attended a London summit called by the show’s creator Simon Cowell last week.

The talent show previously aired in Australia on TEN, hosted by Daniel McPherson, but after following Australian Idol it didn’t succeed.

In the UK it continues to be a ratings blockbuster, while Simon Cowell is set to leave American Idol to bring the show to the US. The series includes a Boot Camp and the judges also mentor acts across the show. Its most famous UK discovery has been Leonna Lewis.

Seven is said to have made ‘an aggressive play’ for the show, but Cowell insists the show would need to be made me, ‘my way or the highway’.

“He said that any other version would have to match his production values and his uncompromising vision, which would cost at least $20 million for 21 hours of television,” a source said.

Source: Daily Telegraph

26 Comments »

  1. Brekkie February 26, 2010 at 10:35 pm -

    $20m for 21 hours of TV – something wrong there, as the live shows alone in the UK top 21 hours, then usually 6 audition shows, 2 boot camp shows and 2 judges houses shows – probably hitting around 40 hours really.

  2. kerry February 26, 2010 at 9:41 pm -

    no please not another australian version – just import the British series love it

  3. Leo February 26, 2010 at 4:45 pm -

    If they cant afford the hefty price tag just import the UK version.
    If they have a local version, Dannii would be a judge for sure – she knows the format & is a fantastic judge & mentor.
    I said before Peter Andre, like Dannii he’s had a lot of experience & success especially internationally & he’s had tv experience.
    I hope he get a local version but as Simon says they would have to up the production values, which means props, dancers, special effects etc – anyone who has seen the UK version will know what Im talking about.

  4. Matt J February 26, 2010 at 2:32 pm -

    Give it to 7 – they’ll broadcast it correctly but I won’t watch – as it’s on Ch 7

    Give it to 9 – they’ll just f-it up and play games with us – and I still won’t watch it.

    Pass.

  5. vrom February 26, 2010 at 2:27 pm -

    We seriously have drongos running our tv networks. Reality is dead.

  6. alfagirl February 26, 2010 at 2:15 pm -

    It will work if the right judges are brought on board and those judges choose good talent. I really feel Idol was let down by its judges and their poor selections. I know it will be hard to find judges that are not ego driven but they must be out there somewhere. Everyone likes music don’t they? Nothing wrong with seeing some new faces singing.

  7. Daniel February 26, 2010 at 2:07 pm -

    Its a shame we won’t get it this year. No Idol means no singing talent to pick on this year lol.

    But I said it ages ago that Idol was done and The X-Factor needed to come back simply because of the success its had in the UK, and now the US is giving it a go also.

  8. craig February 26, 2010 at 1:59 pm -

    Yes! Yes! Yes! done well with decent judges (Kater Ceberano and Mark Holden, dont bother applying) this show could be huge…maybe Dannii could judge if they run it early in the year when the UK version is on hiatus

  9. Dakota85 February 26, 2010 at 1:27 pm -

    I really wish Channel 10 would give it a shot again, I really believe the demos the show effectively chases would be much better represented by Channel 10. But hey, I liked it the first time – they just should have chosen better contestants!

    Although I do agree with John and think they should try another soap or try to get the ratings back up for Neighbours & Home & Away.

  10. Todd February 26, 2010 at 12:51 pm -

    Jerome, Ceberano was an awful judge on X-Factor the first time around, I pray to God she does not get the gig again!

  11. Turdall February 26, 2010 at 11:37 am -

    I guess ten aren’t interested because its going to cost 20 million. Thats ridiculous.

  12. damo February 26, 2010 at 11:33 am -

    simon cowel won’t have anything to do with the australian version. you would have to be stupid to think that. if 7 gets it, it will just be another flogfest of kyle trying toto think he is the best talent finder in the world

  13. Jerome February 26, 2010 at 11:01 am -

    why isn’t ten showing interest? with idol gone and SYTYCD and TBL looking like they won’t be around much longer they could really use a big name like this to fill one of the gaps.

  14. Brett February 26, 2010 at 10:23 am -

    I for one would Love it, especially if Simon was to be brought on as Executive Producer.

    When living in the UK The X Factor was stay at home must watch TV, even bars around the UK would play The X Factor. It was on during the same time as Oz Idol and my god did it make Idol look even worse than it actually was.

    I hope it comes to fruition, although i see it more on 7 than 9, especially since 7 has the other Simon Cowell AGT.

  15. damo February 26, 2010 at 9:58 am -

    for crying out loud. these talent shows are a joke and they turn out to be, is just some singer that cant sing and having a crack and making a d**k of themselves. the public are sick of these shows

  16. Jed February 26, 2010 at 9:33 am -

    Fail.

  17. Lisa February 26, 2010 at 9:05 am -

    No, no, no, no, no! Don’t do it Seven and Nine! Leave it alone, Australia doesn’t need it!

  18. Dave February 26, 2010 at 8:55 am -

    Seven will buy this ex Channel 10 format for sure, thats what they do… just like Frontline, Kath and Kim, Thank God Your Here to name a few. How about creating a new show Channel Seven, ohh The White Room, maybe take this show fromTen then??? @john – It will only be a rating winner (differentiated) with Cowell on the panel!

  19. RichoTB February 26, 2010 at 8:28 am -

    Could we see a revival of an Aussie version of this on a rival network? Perhaps Ten will try another hand at this? Hey, it can’t be any worse than how Idol, TBL and SYTYCD have been going for them

  20. Ruth February 26, 2010 at 8:23 am -

    This should be an interesting thread.
    My reaction is ‘Oh No! not another one’ However I don’t have to watch it …..

  21. Jerome February 26, 2010 at 8:22 am -

    i rekon this would do well on 7 or 9. The X factor is the next big reality franchise. hopefully they are talking 2011 though.

    kate cebrano was a good judge, hope whichever network gets it can get her. maybe dicko as well.

    9 probably needs it more, they don’t seem to ever get the big reality franchises, big brother, idol, dancing with the satrs, got talent, masterchef all went to other networks and they haven’t had much luck with their own ideas.

  22. J Bar February 26, 2010 at 8:18 am -

    Why would the Aussie networks bother? We’ve already had a local version flop. I’d say interest here in the concept is minimal.

  23. mikeys February 26, 2010 at 8:08 am -

    Heck, even if it flops it could still launch your career, right?

  24. John February 26, 2010 at 7:51 am -

    From the networks who gave you Popstars Live and Dancing On Ice (or whatever it was). Maybe Daniel McPherson could host the 7 version for old time’s sake.

  25. ryaneco February 26, 2010 at 6:26 am -

    $20 Million for 21 hours of television sounds mighty pricey.

  26. john February 26, 2010 at 5:46 am -

    Enough already!Ratings this year for Dance,Loser & the like have shown people are fed up with this programming.Ths format did not work last time,Popstars was a failure & Idol has had it’s day.It’s painful to see these so called executives making these crazy decisions.Good programming like Always Greener or Something In The Air lose out to these dime a dozen shows.I would like to see shows like back in the late 70′s early 80′s such as Young Doctors,The Sullivans,Sons & Daughters,Prisoner return…some good old australian soap,something for the over 25′s,but no more police shows please!!

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