The Fox Broadcasting Co. has inked a three-year deal that will keep the sharp-tongued Simon Cowell as a judge on the network’s hit reality series, American Idol. The new pact also includes a first-look deal with Cowell‘s new production banner, Simcow Ltd., and a series commitment with the network.
“They offered me two things I couldn’t turn down,” Cowell told Variety Monday. “I couldn’t pass up the financial offer to do three more (editions of) American Idol and the commitment to launch the TV production company. It wasn’t a patronizing deal to shut me up, it was a really good deal.”
Under the new deal, Cowell will reportedly earn about $150,000 per episode for the third edition of American Idol, which is set to air in January 2004. But Cowell added that Fox’s assurance that the show would remain a once-a-year event also served as an incentive for his return to the series.
Judges Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and host Ryan Seacrest will also return for the next several years.
Cowell said he also planned to try his hand in both scripted and non-scripted projects at Simcow and plans on bringing two or three executives on board to help him manage the company’s production slate, but added that no concepts had been determined yet.
“It’s a slow process,” Cowell said. “I’m a great believer in focusing on one project at a time and seeing it through.”
According to Variety, Cowell–whose reality show Cupid debuts Wednesday on CBS–will not be able to appear regularly on other reality shows, but may still appear in some of his Fox creations. Cowell, however, appears content at the prospect of working off-camera.
“If I was working alongside Fox, and it made sense to appear in something, I’d do it,” he said. “But I’m more than happy to be behind the scenes.”
Cowell, who first appeared as a judge on the U.K.’s Pop Idol, is now in production on the series’ second installment but said it is unlikely he will continue the ITV show beyond the current season. For the next three years, the longtime pop music producer and record label owner plans to make his home in the United States, crossing over to Britain six to nine months a year.
