Fox won't renew 'The X Factor' for 2014/2015 season. This is the rating history of Simon Cowell's singing competition in USA.
American broadcaster Fox cancels 'The X Factor' after three seasons - the show won't return in 2014/2015. Decision is supported by viewership data.
The singing competition created by Simon Cowell's Syco Entertainment and globally distributed by FremantleMedia launched in USA in 2011/2012 season. It averaged 4.4 ratings with Wednesday episodes and 4.2 on Thursdays in 18-49 target group in the first season. In current season it achieved only 2.3 on Wednesdays and 2.0 on Thursdays according to Nielsen. Ratings were no longer high enough for Fox as the channel averages 2.9 in 2013/2014. Also the production was expensive, The Hollywood Reporter confirms.
It was a natural step not to renew the show after losing approximately half of its audience in just two years. Market of singing prime time formats is crowded in USA with four runs of similar shows in just one season. NBC aired Talpa's 'The Voice' in fall (4.9 average rating in the demo on Mondays, 4.5 on Tuesdays) and plans spring run as well plus Fox airs FremantleMedia's 'American Idol' this spring too (averaging 4.5 rating on Wednesday and 4.0 on Thursdays after four weeks).
Despite short history in USA the X Factor format is doing well internationally, with Great Britain being considered as the strongest X Factor market. Artists like One Direction, Leona Lewis and Olly Murs were discovered in the show and local broadcaster ITV re-commissioned the show for three more years. FremantleMedia says local versions of 'The X Factor' are currently produced in 45 countries. New markets include Israel, Indonesia and Portugal. Slovakia is about to follow - TV Joj launches the show in March as a joint co-production project with Czech TV Prima.
Average ratings (target group: 18-49,Most Current, source: Nielsen)