The X Factor (TV series)
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- For the original UK version, see The X Factor (UK)
The X Factor is a franchise originating in the United Kingdom, where it was devised as a replacement for Pop Idol. The programs are produced by executive producer Simon Cowell and his company Syco TV (which will be merged into Greenwell Entertainment as a result of a recent partnership with Sir Philip Green). The competitions, now held in various countries, pit contestants against each other. These contestants are aspiring pop singers and 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 Shayne Ward, Leona Lewis, Alexandra Burke and JLS.
Contents |
[edit] The X Factor series
| Region/country | Local title | Network | Series and winners | Judges | Presenters |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Arab World |
The X Factor, XSeer Al Najah (in Arabic سير النجاح X) |
Rotana TV | Season 1, 2006:  Rajaa KasabniSeason 2, 2007:  Muhammad El Majzoub |
Khaled El Sheikh (2006-2007) Michel Elefteriades (2006-2007) Nelly (2006) Anoushka (2007) |
Joelle Rahme |
 Australia |
The X Factor | Network Ten | Series 1, 2005: Random |
Mark Holden |
Daniel MacPherson |
 Belgium |
X Factor | VTM Website |
Season 1, 2005: Udo Mechels Season 2, 2008: Dirk De Smet |
Kris Wauters Jean Blaute (Season 1) Liliane Saint-Pierre (Season 1) Do (Season 2) Maurice Engelen (Season 2) |
Koen Wauters (Season 1) Hadise (Season 2) |
 Bulgaria |
X Factor | PRO.BG | Season 1, 2010: Upcoming season | TBD | TBD |
 Colombia |
El Factor X | RCN TV Website |
Season 1, 2005: Julio César Meza |
Marbelle (Season 1-present) Juan Carlos Coronel (Season 1-present) José Gaviria (Season 1-present) Wilfrido Vargas (El Factor Xs 2) |
Andrea Serna |
| El Factor X: Batalla de Estrella (celebrity) |
Season 1, 2006: Luz Amparo Alvarez | ||||
| El Factor Xs (children) |
Season 1, 2006: Andres Camilo Hurtado Season 2, 2007: Camilo Echeverry Correa |
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 Czech Republic |
X Factor | TV Nova Website |
Season 1, 2008: Jiří Zonyga |
Gábina Osvaldová Ondřej Soukup Petr Janda |
Leoš Mareš |
 Denmark |
X Factor | DR Website |
Season 1, 2008: |
Remee (Season 1-present) Lina Rafn (Season 1-Sæson 2) Thomas Blachman (Season 1-Sæson 2) Carsten Schack of Soulshock_&_Karlin (Season 3-present) Pernille Rosendahl of Swan Lee (Season 3-present) |
Lise Rønne (Season 1-Sæson 2) Signe Muusmann (Season 3-present) |
 Finland |
X Factor | MTV3 Website |
Season 1, 2010 Upcoming season | Linda Brava Renne Korppila Gugi Kokljuschkin |
X Factor Heikki Paasonen Xtra Factoria Jukka Rossi |
 France BelgiumFrench Community of Belgium |
X Factor | W9 (France) RTL-TVi (Belgium) Website |
Season 1, 2009: Sébastien Agius |
Marc Cerrone Julie Zenatti Alain Lanty |
Alexandre Devoise |
 Germany |
X-Factor | VOX Finals on RTL |
Season 1, 2010: Upcoming season | TBD | TBD |
 Greece Cyprus |
X Factor | ANT1 Website |
Season 1, 2008-2009: |
George Levendis Giorgos Theofanous Katerina Gagaki Nikos Mouratidis |
Sakis Rouvas |
 Hungary |
X-faktor | RTL Klub | Season 1, 2010: Upcoming season | TBD | TBD |
 Iceland |
X Factor | Stöð 2 Website |
Series 1, 2006: |
Einar Bárðarson Elínborg Halldórsdóttir Páll Óskar Hjálmtýsson |
Halla Vilhjálmsdóttir |
 India |
Fame X | SAB TV Website |
Season 1, 2006-2007: Rehan Khan |
Nikhil Chinappa Ganesh Hegde Daler Mehndi |
Sophie Choudry Shilpa Sakhlani |
 Italy |
X Factor | Rai Due Website |
Season 1, 2008: Aram Quartet |
Mara Maionchi (Season 1-present) Morgan (Marco Castoldi) (Season 1-present) Simona Ventura (Season 1-2) Claudia Mori (Season 3-present) |
Francesco Facchinetti |
 Kazakhstan |
X Factor | Season 1, 2006: Unknown winner | |||
| Morocco |
Le Facteur X | 2M TV | Season 1, 2006: Leila, Mouna & Hatim | ||
| Studio 2M |
Season 1, 2006: Hasnaa Zalarh, Imane Rabya & Yassine Badrate |
Malak, Cristy Carol and other judges | Imad Ntifi | ||
 Netherlands |
X Factor | RTL 4 Website |
Season 1, 2006-07: Sharon Kips |
2008-present |
Wendy van Dijk (2006–present) |
 Norway |
X Factor | TV 2 Website |
Season 1, 2009: Chand Torsvik | Jan Fredrik Karlsen Mira Craig Peter Peters |
Charlotte Thorstvedt |
 Russia |
Секрет Успеха (Sekret Uspekha) |
RTR Website |
Season 1, 2005: Vladimir Sapovskiy Season 2, 2007: Nikolai Timohin |
Season 1 Valeriy Meladze Katerina Von Gechmen-Valdek Aleksandr Revzin Valeriya Season 2 Valery Garkalin Tigran Keosayan |
Season 1 Aleksey Chumakov Elena Vorobey Season 2 Tutti Larsen |
 Spain |
Factor X | Cuatro Website |
Season 1, 2007: María Villalón Season 2, 2008:  Vocal Tempo |
Miqui Puig Eva Perales Jorge Flo |
Núria Roca |
 United Kingdom Ireland |
The X Factor |
Series 1, 2004: |
Current |
Current |
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Series 1, 2006: |
[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 company Syco.[3] 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.[4]
[edit] American Version
In April 2009 reports surfaced that Cowell was attempting to launch The X Factor in America after his contract ends with American Idol with the ninth season.[5]. Under the current contract Cowell is forbidden from launching The X Factor as a rival show to Idol.[5] In summer 2009 reports surfaced that the American version would launch on NBC, the same broadcaster that airs America's Got Talent. Louis Walsh and Cheryl Cole from the British version and former Idol judge Paula Abdul are speculated to become judges of the American version.[6][7][8] In September of that year Fox, the broadcaster of American Idol, was reportedly close to signing a deal to launch the American version with the condition Cowell also returns as a judge for the tenth and eleventh seasons of American Idol.[8] But on December 15, 2009, The Times reported that Cowell will leave American Idol after season 9 so he can bring The X Factor to America in 2011. Cowell, whose contract with "American Idol" expires in May 2010, would become the second judge to exit the series, following Paula Abdul, who announced her departure in August 2009 after eight seasons.[9]
[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 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.[10] In the UK, performers' union Equity has referred to the fact that contestants are not paid as "cheap exploitation".[11]
There has been growing criticism of the lack of artistic integrity and entertainment value in a franchise such as the X Factor, essentially a glorified karaoke competition. Also, British newpapers and established music critics have voiced the opinion that the entertainment Cowell promotes is vapid, features virtual instruments, is overproduced and that the show doesn't and fundementally can't foster real music careers for the wannabe vocalists involved.[citation needed]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "Factor Xs 2010", PortalMundos, 11 September 2009, (Spanish).
- ^ "Factor Xs", La Fiscalia, 11 September 2009, (Spanish).
- ^ 'X Factor copyright case adjourned' BBC News retrieved 15 May 2007
- ^ "X Factor copyright case settled", BBC News, retrieved 15 May 2007
- ^ a b Hurrel, Will (2009-04-22). "Cowell Hints at US X Factor". http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/multi-platform/news/cowell-hints-at-us-x-factor/2020988.article. Retrieved 2009-10-08.
- ^ Nissim, Mayer (2009-07-03). "Cheryl Cole to host US X Factor". Digital Spy. http://www.digitalspy.com/xfactor/a163317/cheryl-cole-to-host-us-x-factor.html. Retrieved 2009-10-08.
- ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (2009-07-04). "Louis Walsh tipped for US X Factor". Digital Spy. http://www.digitalspy.com/xfactor/news/a163468/louis-walsh-tipped-for-us-x-factor.html. Retrieved 2009-10-08.
- ^ a b Andreeva, Nellie (2009-09-23). "X Factor Key in Simon Cowell Deal". The Hollywood Reporter. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i1224fdfbab2618f3c31e00acc93f1587. Retrieved 2009-10-08.
- ^ "Simon Cowell To Exit American Idol?" from All Access (December 17, 2009)
- ^ [1] Berlingske Tidende 18 December 2007
- ^ Equity: 'X Factor is cheap exploitation' Digital Spy
[edit] External links
- X Factor 2008 - Official X Factor Belgium 2008 page
- The X Factor at itv.com
- X Factor Official site of X Factor Denmark at DR
- 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
- Norwegian X Factor Homepage Official site of X Factor Norway
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