‘American Idol’ Producers in Talks with NBC

First, let me say, “I told you so.”

Just one season after American Idol ended its run on FOX, comes word that Idol distributor, Fremantle Media, is in talks with NBC to revive American Idol.

There is no news on who would be returning, or when it would potentially run, but one rumored option would be for NBC to trim The Voice from two editions to one edition per season.

So here’s where my “I told you so” comes from:

At its peak in 2006, American Idol averaged a 12.4 rating among in the 18-49 demographic and 36.4 million total viewers, according to the AC Nielsen rating service. By its 15th, and final, season in 2015-16 averaged in the vicinity of 9-million viewers per week.

Although it was a far cry from its glory days, 9-million viewers per week remains respectable by contemporary standards, with delayed viewing and increased competition applying downward pressure on live ratings across television, and when AI was canceled, I stated it would be difficult to find a replacement that could top 9.1 million viewers, and I felt we could see Idol returning.

At at the Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour in 2016, host Ryan Seacrest then hinted it may not be the official end of the franchise.