The X Factor
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- For the original UK version, see The X Factor (UK)
The X Factor is a television show franchise originating in the United Kingdom, where it was devised as a replacement for Pop Idol. It is a singing competition, now held in various countries, which pits contestants against each other. These contestants are aspiring pop singers drawn from public auditions. The programs are produced by executive producer Simon Cowell and his company Syco TV). 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. As of January 2010, there have been 48 winners of The X Factor around the world.
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 Kasabni Season 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 | ||||
 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: Martin Hoberg Hedegaard |
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 Kick-off and finale on RTL Website |
Season 1, 2010: Upcoming season | TBD | TBD |
 Greece Cyprus
|
The X Factor | ANT1 Website |
Series 1 2008-2009: Loukas Giorkas Series 2 2009-2010: Stavros Mixalakos |
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: Jógvan Hansen |
Einar Bárðarson Elínborg Halldórsdóttir Páll Óskar Hjálmtýsson |
Halla Vilhjálmsdóttir |
 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 |
 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 |
 Poland
|
X Factor | Polsat | Season 1, 2010: Upcoming season | TBA | TBA |
 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: Steve Brookstein
|
Current |
Current | |
|
Series 1, 2006: Lucy Benjamin | |||||
 United States
|
The X Factor | Fox ITV2 |
Season 1, 2011: Upcoming season | Simon Cowell Others to be announced |
|
 Ukraine
|
X Factor | STB | Season 1, 2010: Upcoming season | TBA | TBA |
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]
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.[5] In the UK, performers' union Equity has referred to the fact that contestants are not paid as "cheap exploitation".[6]
See also
References
- ^ "Factor Xs 2010", PortalMundos, 11 September 2009, Template:Es.
- ^ "Factor Xs", La Fiscalia, 11 September 2009, Template:Es.
- ^ 'X Factor copyright case adjourned' BBC News retrieved 15 May 2007
- ^ "X Factor copyright case settled", BBC News, retrieved 15 May 2007
- ^ [1] Berlingske Tidende 18 December 2007
- ^ Equity: 'X Factor is cheap exploitation' Digital Spy
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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