Simon Cowell Signs New Multi-Year Deal as Judge; IDOL Creator Simon Fuller & FremantleMedia’s Cecile Frot-Coutaz Continue as Executive Producers

FOX, 19 Entertainment, Ltd. and FremantleMedia North America, Inc. have entered into a new agreement that extends their relationships as the new season of AMERICAN IDOL approaches. Simultaneously, FOX also has reached an agreement with Simon Cowell that will ensure his continued on-air participation through at least five more seasons.

In addition to creating partnerships in areas such as wireless and the Internet, the agreement guarantees FOX will order additional seasons of AMERICAN IDOL, which was created by Simon Fuller and is co-owned and co-produced by FremantleMedia North America, Inc. and 19 Entertainment.

“We’re thrilled to continue our partnership with FremantleMedia, Simon Fuller and 19 Entertainment on television's No. 1 series,” said Peter Liguori, President of Entertainment for Fox Broadcasting Company. “And that news is only bettered by knowing Simon Cowell will bring his unique talents to AMERICAN IDOL for years to come.”

Simon Fuller comments: “This show has won awards and broken all kinds of records around the world and I’m delighted to be committing to a further run with FOX in the States. Simon Cowell is a key component of the incredible success of AMERICAN IDOL, and I’m delighted that we’ll continue working as a team with FremantleMedia and FOX.”

“Today's announcement is a real tribute to the show's continued success and a huge vote of confidence from FOX to all involved,” said Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO FremantleMedia North America, Inc. and Executive Producer of AMERICAN IDOL. “It’s an extension of a long-term partnership that will enable all parties to further develop AMERICAN IDOL to its fullest potential.”

"It is a personal thrill for me to play a role in giving the best young singers in America a shot at realizing their dreams,” said Cowell. “I'm also happy to be working with my good friend Simon Fuller for the foreseeable future and I look forward to continuing to be a part of the FOX network and the phenomenal success that is AMERICAN IDOL."

Last season, AMERICAN IDOL’s Tuesday and Wednesday programs ranked as the No. 1- and No. 2-rated programs of the season among Adults 18-49, Adults 18-34 and Teens. The series easily dominated its time periods across all demographics and outperformed previous seasons.

Fourteen-time Emmy-nominated AMERICAN IDOL is created and executive-produced by Simon Fuller, founder of 19 Entertainment, Ltd.; and executive-produced by Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO, FremantleMedia North America, Inc.; Nigel Lythgoe, President, 19 Television; and Ken Warwick, Executive Producer, FremantleMedia North America, Inc.

About 19 Entertainment

19 Entertainment, Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of CKX, Inc. (NASDAQ: CKXE), was founded by Simon Fuller 21 years ago and acquired by CKX in March 2005. The company is recognized as a leading creator, provider and promoter of globally successful, music-based entertainment, or "Entertainment Brands."

Simon Fuller, who serves as Chief Executive Officer of 19 Entertainment, is the creator of AMERICAN IDOL in the United States, “Pop Idol” in the UK, as well as versions of the IDOL format in more than 30 countries around the world. Fuller is also the co-creator of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE, which aired in the U.S. on FOX during summer 2005 and was the top-rated television show in its time slot.

Fuller has made music history in the UK and the U.S.A., producing a stream of No. 1 hits and managing multi-platinum-selling acts. Fuller recently became the world's most successful manager – breaking a record set by the Beatles’ manager Brian Epstein in the 1960s – when three of his artists occupied the No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 positions on the U.S. single chart as well as the No. 1 position on the album chart.

19 Entertainment has been involved in the creation of 109 No. 1 singles and 87 No. 1 albums in the UK alone, with an impressive tally of 296 Top-40 albums and 465 Top-40 singles.

About FremantleMedia

FremantleMedia North America (FMNA) is on the leading edge of global broadcast production, developing some of television's most innovative and watched new programming.  Based in Santa Monica and with offices in New York, FMNA has produced such genre-bending shows as the musical/reality phenomenon AMERICAN IDOL, which it co-owns and co-produces. 

  In 2005, FremantleMedia programs garnered 16 Emmy nominations, including six for AMERICAN IDOL. Other credits include "The Price Is Right" (CBS), the longest-running game show in television history; the daily syndicated game show “Family Feud”; the hotly debated reality series "The Swan" (FOX); the breakout hit lifestyle show "How Clean Is Your House?" (Lifetime); “Distraction” (Comedy Central); “Property Ladder” (TLC); and the upcoming “American Inventor” (ABC).

FMNA is a division of FremantleMedia, one of the largest international creators and producers of program brands in the world, with production operations in more than 25 countries. FremantleMedia co-developed, co-owns and co-produced “Pop Idol” in the UK and has produced the format in over 30 countries worldwide. FremantleMedia is the production arm of the RTL Group, Europe's largest television and radio broadcast company.  With interests in 31 television channels and 33 radio stations in 10 countries, RTL Group is a division of leading integrated media and entertainment company Bertelsmann AG.  For further information, visit www.fremantlemedia.com.

About Simon Cowell

Simon Cowell's honesty on AMERICAN IDOL has made him a household name in America.  Cowell's UK-based production company, SYCO, produced the U.S. series “Cupid” and is currently at work on Season 2 of the No. 1 entertainment show in the UK, “The X Factor,” which began airing in the UK in September 2004, with Cowell executive-producing and starring.  SYCO will have a further seven new shows airing in 2006.  In December 2003, Cowell's book "I Don't Mean To Be Rude, But...." hit the stands, detailing behind-the-scenes information about AMERICAN IDOL. 

Cowell was named one of People Magazine’s 25 Most Eligible Bachelors in 2004, while Entertainment Weekly named him one of the Top Entertainers of the year.

A 20-year veteran of the music industry, Cowell is an executive with SonyBMG Music Entertainment. He has helped to shape the modern pop music industry.  Over the last 15 years his acts have achieved sales of more than 100 million albums, and he has had over 50 No. 1 records.  His most recent artist is Il Divo, whose debut album has sold over 5 million copies around the world and has entered into the top 5 in 23 countries.  The UK version of AMERICAN IDOL, "Pop Idol," is where Cowell became a celebrity in his own right.