FremantleMedia: ’Nostalgia as global trend’

‘American Idol is an incredibly strong brand. The first season on ABC will feel familiar to the original and of course, we are excited to have Katy Perry as one of our judges. More judge names will be announced soon’, described the executive, and ensures that, when there’s a show that works, ‘you must be mindful to not take that for granted’. ‘You must remain consistent and keep the quality as high as possible. Freshening, modernizing and small evolutions are sometimes necessary - but not at the expense of changing the core of the format’, she remarked. 

Regarding new trends, the executive highlighted that during 2016 seemed to be tapping into nostalgia. ‘We are seeing this in both scripted and non-scripted. Given that we have a rich and deep catalogue, we are excited to bring back titles that will excite audiences’. And she completed: ‘We are always open to new and innovative business models’.

Ben Sherwood, co-chairman, Disney Media Networks and president, Disney|ABC, said: ‘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’¿.

To date, American Idol has earned 67 Emmy nominations and nine wins, including the prestigious Governors Award in 2016, and its talented discoveries have already won 14 Grammys, two Golden Globes and an Academy Award, among numerous other accolades.

During its 15th season run, the show won Wednesday’s 8 p.m. hour in Total Viewers (11.5 million) and Adults 18-49 (3.0/10). In its Thursday run, the series ran in a near tie with a “Big Bang Theory”-boosted CBS for #1 in the 2-hour slot with Total Viewers (11.1 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.8/10). The 15th season of “American Idol” finished the 2015-16 season among the Top 3 programs on Wednesday night in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49.