The X Factor (TV series)
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- For the original UK version, see The X Factor (UK)
The X Factor is a television music talent show franchise originating in the United Kingdom, where it was devised as a replacement for the massively successful Pop Idol. The competitions, now held in various countries, are contested by aspiring pop singers, and talent filled aspiring performers drawn from public auditions. The "X Factor" of the title refers to the undefinable "something" that makes for star quality. The prize is usually a recording contract (in addition to the publicity that appearance in the later stages of the show itself generates, not only for the winner but also for other highly ranked contestants). The format creator is Simon Cowell who also judges and mentors on the UK series. The UK version is responsible for the launch of Leona Lewis, who has since gone on to achieve worldwide success.
Contents |
[edit] The X Factor series
| Region/country | Local title | Network | Series and winners | Judges | Presenters | Run |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arab World | The X Factor, XSeer Al Najah Official website |
Rotana TV | Series 1, 2006: Rajaa Kasbani Series 2, 2007: Mohammad Al Majthoub |
Khaled Al-Shaikh |
Joelle Rahme | |
| 2006-present | ||||||
 Australia |
The X Factor | Network Ten | Series 1, 2005: Random |
Mark Holden (Series 1) |
Daniel MacPherson Julia Zemiro |
|
 Belgium |
X Factor |
VTM | Series 1, 2005: Udo Mechels Series 2, 2008: Dirk De Smet Series 3, 2009: Up Coming |
Kris Wauters Jean Blaute (Series 1) Liliane Saint-Pierre (Series 1) Do (Series 2) Maurice Engelen (Series 2) |
Koen Wauters (Series 1) Hadise (Series 2) |
|
 Bulgaria |
X Factor | PRO.BG | Series 1, Upcoming 2009 |
no info up to now (Series 1) |
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 Colombia |
El Factor X | RCN TV |
Series 1, 2005: Julio César Meza |
Marbelle Juan Carlos Coronel José Gaviria Wilfrido Vargas (El Factor Xs series 2) |
Andrea Serna | |
| El Factor X: Batalla de Estrellas | Series 1, 2006: Luz Amparo Alvarez | |||||
| El Factor Xs | Series 1, 2006: Andres Series 2, 2007: Camilo |
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 Czech Republic |
X Factor Official website |
TV Nova |
Series 1, 2008: Jiří Zonyga, "George" |
Gábina Osvaldová Ondřej Soukup Petr Janda |
Leoš Mareš | |
 Denmark |
X Factor Official website |
DR |
Series 1, 2008: Martin Hoberg Hedegaard |
Remee Lina Rafn Thomas Blachman |
Lise Rønne | |
 Greece |
The X Factor Official website |
ANT1 |
Series 1, 2008-2009: Loukas Giorkas |
George Levendis Giorgos Theofanous Katerina Gagaki Nikos Mouratidis |
Sakis Rouvas | |
 Iceland |
The X Factor Official website |
Stöð 2 |
Series 1, 2006: Jógvan Hansen |
Einar Bárðarson Elínborg Halldórsdóttir Páll Óskar Hjálmtýsson |
Halla Vilhjálmsdóttir | |
 India |
Fame X Academy | SAB TV |
Series 1, 2006: Rehaan Khan |
Sophie Choudhary Shilpa Saklani |
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 Italy |
X Factor Official website |
Rai Due |
Series 1, 2008: Aram Quartet |
Mara Maionchi (Series 1-) Morgan (Series 1-) Simona Ventura (Series 1-2) Claudia Mori (Series 3-) |
Francesco Facchinetti | |
 Kazakhstan |
The X Factor | Series 1, 2006: | ||||
 Morocco |
Le Facteur X | 2M TV | Series 1, 2006:
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| Studio 2M | Series 1, 2004:
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 Netherlands |
X Factor Official website |
RTL 4 | Series 1, 2006-07: Sharon Kips Series 2, 2008-09: Lisa Hordijk |
Stacey Rookhuizen (2008 – present) |
Wendy van Dijk (2006 – present) |
|
 Norway |
X Factor | TV 2 (Norway) | Series 1, 2009 | Jan Fredrik Karlsen Mira Craig Peter Peters |
Charlotte Thorstvedt | |
 Portugal |
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 Russia |
Секрет Успеха Official website |
RTR | Series 1, 2005: Vladimir Sapovskiy Series 2, 2007: Nikolai Timohin |
Valeriy Meladze (2005) Katerina Von Gechmen-Valdek (2005) Aleksandr Revzin (2005) Valeriya (2007-) Valery Garkalin (2007-) Tigran Keosayan(2007-) |
Aleksey Chumakov (2005) Elena Vorobey (2005) Tutti Larsen(2007-) |
|
 Spain |
Factor X Official website |
Cuatro | Series 1, 2007: María Villalón Series 2, 2008: Vocal Tempo |
Miqui Puig Eva Perales Jorge Flo |
Núria Roca | |
 Sweden |
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 Turkey |
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 United Kingdom |
The X Factor Official website |
Series 1, 2004: Steve Brookstein |
Simon Cowell (2004 – present) |
Kate Thornton (2004 – 2006) |
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[edit] Dispute over rights to format
Pop Idol creator Simon Fuller claimed the format of The X Factor was copied from his own show and through his company 19 TV filed a lawsuit against The X Factor producers FremantleMedia, Simon Cowell, and Cowell's companies Simco and Syco.[1] A high court hearing began in London in November 2005, the outcome awaited with interest by media lawyers for its potential effect on the legal situation regarding the copyrighting of formats. However the hearing was quickly adjourned and a settlement was reached out of court at the end of the month.[2]
[edit] Euro X Factor
On 9 December 2006 the Daily Mirror revealed that Simon Cowell intends to launch a "Euro X Factor" within two years.[3] The show, if launched, would feature European countries staging their own X Factor contests, with a winner announced for each. The individual winners would then take part in the "Euro X Factor". The concept is similar to that of World Idol and the Eurovision Song Contest; however, unlike these shows "Euro X Factor" would progress over a number of weeks, with one act eliminated each week, until an eventual international winner is found. It is anticipated that such a show could attract over 100 million viewers per episode, which would make it the world's biggest talent competition.
[edit] Criticism
The Danish version of The X Factor has been criticized by Danish music contract expert and consultant for The Danish Musicians' Association (Dansk Musiker Forbund) Mikael Højris.
According to Højris, the contracts for participation in the show are unfair for participants and almost amount to serfdom to DR1 (the channel airing the show) stating that clauses in the contracts forbid the participants - whether they pass the first round or not - from performing or participating in any other musical event for three months.
He also criticises the fact that participants are obliged to travel at their own expense to any location the programme requires them to be present at and that participants are not paid during their participation in the show, even if participating prevents them from attending a regular day job.[4]
[edit] References
- ^ 'X Factor copyright case adjourned' BBC News retrieved 15 May 2007
- ^ "X Factor copyright case settled", BBC News, retrieved 15 May 2007
- ^ "EURO FACTOR EXCLUSIVE", The Mirror, 9 December 2007.
- ^ [1] Berlingske Tidende 18 December 2007
[edit] External links
- X Factor 2008 - Official X Factor Belgium 2008 page
- The X Factor at itv.com
- The X Factor Official MySpace page
- X Factor Official site of X Factor Denmark at DR
- The X Factor at talkbackthames.tv
- The X Factor 2008 - The very latest X Factor Downloads, News and Gossip at xfactornews.com
- The X Factor - Show News & Gossip at thexfactor.com
- The X Factor at Unreality TV
- The X Factor Gifts Official Gift Shop
- The Official site of The X Factor - Italy Official site of X Factor Italy
- X Factor UK News and Updates X Factor UK News and Updates
- Greek X Factor Homepage The Official site of X Factor Greece
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