U.K. Upset with Simon Cowell’s “X Factor” Deal

ITV executives, the network in the U.K. that airs “The X Factor,” are upset with Simon Cowell for moving the hit show to the Fox network. They will no longer be able to air their edition in the fall because that is when Cowell will be in America working on the new edition.

“The X Factor” was premiered in September 2004, and Cowell has served as a judge since that point. Cowell also is a judge on another U.K. show, “Britain’s Got Talent.”

Having “The X Factor” air in the U.S. means that it will not be able to air in the U.K. at the same time, which creates scheduling conflicts for ITV. They will now have to air “The X Factor” during the first half of the year, which makes it complicated with airing “Britain’s Got Talent” because Cowell is a judge on both.