NBC in Talks to Reboot ‘American Idol’

Freemantle is shopping iconic singing competition that originally ran for 15 seasons on Fox

24 Hours Earlier: Idol had just occupied the stage. (Getty Images)

Less than a year after “American Idol” ended on Fox, it could be set for a revival – at NBC.

TheWrap has learned that the iconic singing competition, which ended after 15 seasons on Fox on April 7, 2016, has been aggressively shopped to other networks by production company Freemantle Media, and NBC has emerged as a top contender.

The network already airs the similar singing competition “The Voice” twice a season.

A person with knowledge of the negotations did not indicate the chances of a deal coming together.

NBC had no comment.

The show — which was created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment — ran from June 11, 2002, to April 7, 2016, on Fox. In addition to receiving 59 Emmy nominations and eight Emmy Awards, “American Idol” served as the launching pad for stars like Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Hudson, Adam Lambert, Chris Daughtry and Phillip Phillips.

Past contestants have gone on to create more than 450 Billboard No. 1 hit songs; win 13 Grammys, two Golden Globes and an Academy Award; and sell more than 60 million albums — which have collectively become more than 80 platinum records and 95 gold records.

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