| MUMBAI:
Simon Cowell is going from strength to strength. The acerbic judge of American
Idol has signed a £20 million-a-year deal with UK broadcaster ITV to
continue hosting the music based reality show The X Factor. Cowell will host the show
for three years. He says, "After two and a half years of The X Factor,
I'd pondered whether we were going to carry on. But this series has been fantastic...
I think there is even more we can do with The X Factor. I couldn't be happier."
Media reports add that Cowell
will also produce and star in a series of prime-time ventures. His company, Syco
Tv, has finalised an extended five-year deal to appear on American Idol.
Cowell also stipulates in his contract that his record company, Sony BMG, is
allowed to release records by the winning contestants. | 
