Surprise Winner Huge TV Money-Maker `American Idol' Wasn't Even Planned For TV

Surprise Winner Huge TV Money-Maker

January 17, 2004
By MEG JAMES, Los Angeles Times http://www.ctnow.com/business/hc-ameridol.artjan17,1,6261952,print.story?coll=hc-headlines-business

"American Idol" unfolds with youthful innocence as wide-eyed, underdog contestants try to beat the odds - and a snarling judge - to make it big.

The concept behind the hit show, which begins its third season on Fox Broadcasting Co. next week, has minted more than $2 billion worldwide. But initially, "Idol" wasn't even going to be on TV.

Five years ago, British entrepreneur Simon Fuller thought of tailoring a talent show for the Internet, where computer users could discover and vote for their new favorites. Back then, though, the Internet wasn't taking off fast enough for Fuller.

So he approached FremantleMedia, Europe's largest independent TV production firm, and made his pitch: The contest would be decided not by a panel of judges, but by TV viewers. The audience would embrace the artists, buy their CDs and jam their concerts.

No one - with the exception of Fuller - dreamed it would work so well.