X Factor: Cheryl Cole Replaced By Davina McCall
X FACTOR news now as the Star leads with a picture of Cheryl Cole’s mentor Simon Cowell wielding a huge bloodied axe and the headline:
“SIMON AXE FACTOR – he tells ITV: More money or I’ll pull show.”
Simon Cowell is the de facto head of ITV. So if he asks for an extra £3 million the Sun says he wants on its front page, he should get it. What’s £3 million but a few in-patients with speed dial. Show him the money.
A source tells the Star that other channels would “bite his hand off” to take the X Factor. But would they? On the BBC, the show would be produced by committee, with no money-earning ad breaks and a tabloid press demanding value for licence fee payers’ money. Cheryl Cole would no longer be a national treasure, she’d be nationalised, each of us investing in her success.
On Channel 4, the show would alienate everyone over 21 with shouty presenters and a cheap set; Channel FIVE has no money; Sky is not popular enough unless it could stretch out those Sky News exclusives to take in the actual show; and although Television X has the name broadcasting after 12pm may impact on viewers’ ability to focus at school.
Oh, and as for the actual front-page news stories, it turns out that they’re based on a hunch:
ITV already lavishes £1.7million each weekend on the shows. Simon, who co-produces X Factor, is believed to want another £300,000 spent on ten shows next series. He is also considering staging next year’s final at a huge venue like the 02 in London or Wembley Arena.
So much is up in the air. Let’s hope someone wins:
Simon is still negotiating his own £7.5million salary with ITV.
Kerching!
Posted: 11th, December 2009 | In: Reviews Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
