Amazon welcomes ABC’s American Idol back to the UK

Amazon Prime Video UK has secured exclusive rights to ABC’s rebooted American Idol.

The UK is one of 150 territories that the format has been sold to via FremantleMedia International. Other territories include Canada, Australia, Latin America, Africa and more.

The series recently returned to US screens on ABC after Fox dropped it in 2016. More than ten million viewers tuned in, with the second episode pulling in around 8.5 million.

American Idol ran on ITV2 in the UK for a number of years before Channel 5 picked it up for its thematic 5* network in 2012.

Amazon will launch episodes less than two days after their US broadcast.

Judges who determine who the US’s latest singing sensation are country singer Luke Bryan and pop stars Katy Perry and Lionel Richie.

Ryan Seacrest returns as host of the series, despite recent allegations of sexual harassment made against him.

The show is produced by FremantleMedia North America and CORE Media Group’s 19 Entertainment. Exec producers include Fremantle’s Trish Kinane and Jennifer Mullin, along with executive producer Phil McIntyre representing CORE.

Idol has had original versions produced in 55 countries worldwide.

Jamie Lynn, executive VP and head of sales and distribution for EMEA for FremantleMedia International said: “American Idol has launched to fantastic ratings on ABC in the US and we are excited that Amazon Prime Video will become the exclusive home of the new series in the UK with this unique deal.

“To see one of the biggest entertainment shows on a streaming service is a not only a first, but testament to the appetite for American Idol and will be a whole new way to reach fans of the series.”