Simon Cowell's 'X-Factor' Canceled, 'American Idol' Fading

Television viewers still have The Voice, but Fox warns they won’t have two of its signature singing shows for much longer.

Fox just canceled X Factor, Simon Cowell’s reality singing competition, and the network says the once mighty American Idol franchise is clearly on its last legs.

At the same time, “American Idol” is quote- “winding down.” Those were the words of Chase Carey, head of Fox TV on conference call with Wall Street analysts Thursday. Carey conceded the show is coming to an end, although he didn’t say this would be the last season.

“It’s not a show that drives the whole network as it did in years passed. The show is 13 years old. We hope to have years 14, 15, 16, 17. But it won’t be like seasons 5, 6, and 7. We know it’s coming to an end. It’s a great show. The ratings fell faster for American Idol and X Factor than we hoped. It’s winding down to where it’s just a great, successful show.

It means Cowell’s stamp on American television is fading. The professional grouch is moving into other arenas, though. He is an executive producer on One Chance, the upcoming film which chronicles the true story of an amateur opera singer who gets the break of a lifetime on a reality show. The film, directed by David Frankel of Marley & Me fame, hits theaters March 14.