Despite the fact that Australia’s Network Ten recently picked up the rights to American Idol with judge Keith Urban, spokesperson Catherine Donovan says, “Aussie Idol isn’t coming back – it’s all speculation.”
Australian Idol has launched the careers of several of the country’s current popular artists, including Guy Sebastian, Shannon Noll, Damien Leith and Jessical Mauboy. In February, Ten’s program chief Beverley McGarvey said in a public statement that the come-back of the once popular singing competition might still be a possibility.
The Australian version of the popular U.S. show American Idol was televised on Network Ten for seven years, from 2003-2009.
McGarvey’s claim in February followed shortly after the network had acquired the rights to American Idol, fueling hopes among Australian Idol fans that a return of the local version would soon follow. However, American Idol has been a ratings disappointment in the region’s market since, which seems to have foreclosed the possibility of a local version revival.