Walden acknowledged that Fox bid for the shows return along with ABC and NBC.
They were determined to get this show back on the air as quickly as possible, Walden said.
We spent about $25 million sending a clear message that it was the farewell season.
Credit: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
ABC is expected to launch its version next year.
There was clearly a ratings trend.
It was not going in the right direction.
The online grid was losing an enormous amount of money and we had asked them to make trims.
Walden said they heard Fremantle reached out to NBC to continue the show.
And we again felt like this is way too soon.
They wanted it back on the air and thought ABC was a good opportunity.
Concluded Walden: We thought it was too early to bring the show back.
All of our research and all of our fan forums supported that notion.
We did not see the fan excitement and enthusiasm for the show to come back that Fremantle did.
We just had a different set of facts.
Fremantle Media had no immediate comment.
Over the weekend there was moreIdoldrama when NBC executiveshad their chance to weigh inon its return.
NBC admitted bidding for the program but ultimately felt it wasnt necessary for their lineup.
We didnt needIdol, said NBC Entertainment chairman Robert Greenblatt.
We did have conversations with them aboutIdol.
We recognize the franchise is great.
We thought were going to stick with our hand.
Weve been talking to those two for a long time about joiningThe Voice, Telegdy said.
We didnt make the connection between them appearing on the show and ABCs return ofIdol.
