ABC to Bring Back American Idol

ABC has closed a deal with FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment to revive the music competition series American Idol.

American Idol originally ran for 15 seasons on FOX in the U.S., earning 67 Emmy nominations and nine wins. The show finished the 2015-16 season among the top three programs on Wednesday night in total viewers and adults 18 to 49. Now, ABC will bring the talent-based competition back for the 2017-18 season. A host and judges have yet to be announced.

“American Idol on ABC…that has a nice ring to it,” said Ben Sherwood, co-chairman of Disney Media Networks and president of Disney|ABC. “Idol is an entertainment icon, and now it will air where it belongs, in ABC’s lineup of addictive fan favorites alongside Dancing with the Stars and The Bachelor. America, get ready for the return of a bigger, bolder and better-than-ever Idol.”

“American Idol is a pop-culture staple that left the air too soon,” said Channing Dungey, the president of ABC Entertainment. “ABC is the right home to reignite the fan base. We are thrilled viewers will once again share in these inspiring stories of people realizing their dreams.”

Cecile Frot-Coutaz, the CEO of FremantleMedia Group, added, “ABC’s passion and enthusiasm make them a perfect home for American Idol. We are excited to be partnering with them to discover the next generation of talented artists. It’s an irresistible combination that means now is the ideal time to welcome back one of the most successful shows in the history of contemporary television.”

“All of the intense speculation surrounding the comeback of American Idol demonstrates just how popular and powerful this brand remains,” said Peter Hurwitz, the CEO of 19 Entertainment parent company CORE Media Group. “ABC shares our belief in the enduring value of Idol and will provide us with the perfect new home to showcase the gold standard of singing competition shows.”