After three seasons of declining ratings, Fox has cancelled The X Factor, the same day Simon Cowell announced he would be leaving the show.
X Factor judge and executive producer Simon Cowell announced today that he would not be returning to the singing competition show. While he didn’t give a specific reason for his departure, he said, “Last year, for a number of reasons, I had to make a decision to return to the U.K. version of The X Factor in 2014.”
Cowell said he’s had a fantastic time at both X Factor and American Idol over the last 12 years, and that, “I have always had an incredible welcome from the American public (most of the time!)”
Fox entertainment chairman Kevin Reilly added, “Unfortunately, there is no X Factor USA without Simon Cowell, but we understand and support his decision to focus on the international formats and on the next phase of his personal life. We wish him the very best, and it’s our sincere hope that we work together again soon.”
Cowell confirmed the announcement on Twitter, saying it has been “a day of mixed emotions”:
Today was a day of mixed emotions. Excited to confirm me returning to the Uk X factor and sad to leave America.
— Simon Cowell (@SimonCowell) February 8, 2014
While Cowell’s departure is being named as the reason for The X Factor‘s cancellation, the news is not altogether surprising. X Factor has struggled to gain traction with American audiences, with its ratings declining each season. The most recent season averaged 7.1 million viewers and a mere 2.3 rating among adults 18-49 on Wednesday nights, including seven days of DVR playback.
Fox has been debating the show’s survival for months, and even considered bringing it back for a fourth season to air one night a week, following in the footsteps of fellow Fox competition show So You Think You Can Dance, and ABC’s Dancing With The Stars. But in the end, the decision was made to end the show at three seasons.
The X Factor was caught in the mix with a number of other popular singing competition shows, and seems to have gotten lost in the melee. NBC’s The Voice, in particular, seems to have hurt The X Factor significantly, premiering the same year, with its charming cast of celebrity coaches.