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Simon Cowell hits the high notes in new ITV deal

London - Simon Cowell has agreed a £150m deal to keep The X Factor and Britain's Got Talent on the air.

The 54-year-old mogul's company Syco and production company FremantleMedia have reached an agreement with ITV which will keep both hit shows on screens until the end of 2016.

The new three-year deal guarantees three more series of X Factor and Britain's Got Talent starting in 2014, and Simon has also negotiated a separate 'performer' deal to appear on one of the two shows as a judge for three more years.

However, a clause in his new contract means the TV judge could opt to appear on both shows if he so chooses.

It's thought Simon could earn £15m, separate from the production deal, if he agrees to return to both X Factor and Got Talent, and sources indicate it's "very likely" he will re-join the singing show's panel following poor ratings for the US version of The X Factor.

Viewership for the US show plummeted to 3.6 million viewers last week, leading to speculation the costly programme may be axed at the end of its ongoing third series.

A source close to Simon told The Sun newspaper: "Everyone wants to keep making The X Factor and BGT so it was just a case of ironing out the terms. Simon will do one show a year at least."

Simon when he thinks about that contract:

Simon Cowell
(Photo: imageshack)
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