AXS TV Renews The Flagship Version Of The World's Most Popular Music Competition Show 'The X Factor UK' For A Second Year

LOS ANGELES, April 16, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- AXS TV, cable's premier music entertainment channel, has renewed the hugely successful global hit The X Factor UK for a second consecutive year. The network will continue as the official U.S. broadcast home for the 12th season of the signature program, premiering in the fall on AXS TV. The agreement, which features a 34-episode order, was signed with FremantleMedia International (FMI) and Syco Entertainment. The X Factor UK was created by Simon Cowell's Syco Entertainment and is co-produced by Syco Entertainment and Thames TV (part of FremantleMedia UK). AXS TV is the first American television network to air the legendary UK version of the show.

AXS TV will continue to air all episodes of The X Factor UK within 24 hours after the respective UK broadcasts. Encore episodes will be broadcast directly following AXS TV's premieres.

Last year's broadcast of season 11 was a success for AXS TV, as the DVR-friendly series lifted The X Factor UK's average audience on AXS TV by 68% (Live+3) during its broadcast run, according to Rentrak. Additionally, the network achieved social media milestones when former contestants of The X Factor, such as One Direction and Fifth Harmony, supported the channel with live tweets and custom video messages.

Known for its high-caliber performances showcasing lavishly produced sets and wardrobes, the series is also one of the first stops for major recording artists to promote their latest hits. Last season, AXS TV viewers were among the first in America to enjoy Taylor Swift's smash "Shake It Off"; Maroon 5's "Animals"; two separate Sam Smith performances featuring "Like I Can," and "Stay With Me," respectively; One Direction's single "Where Do Broken Hearts Go," performed live for the first time on TV; and Ed Sheeran's chart-topper "Thinking Out Loud," which he later sang with winner Ben Haenow in the finale.

"The X Factor UK is a stand out series for AXS TV that excels in consistently delivering unforgettable performances from both today's top artists and aspiring vocalists, alike. American viewers have embraced this series, as last season's dramatic storylines and eliminations led to significant increases in engagement each week," said AXS TV Senior Vice President of Programming and Development Michele M. Dix. "We are excited to see what new talent the show will discover this year, and which judges will grace the panel. With Simon Cowell at the helm, we know that we will, once again, have a show that will be strongly supported by our core viewing audience."

The preparation for season 12 is underway, as contestants will be soon auditioning across the UK in Manchester, London, Newcastle, and Edinburgh. As previously reported, former host Dermot O'Leary is not returning for Season 12. Announcements revealing the new host, as well as next season's judges, are forthcoming.

Over the past decade, The X Factor UK has set the benchmark in finding worldwide superstars, producing acts such as international boy band sensation One Direction, soulful songstress Leona Lewis; pop stars Olly Murs and Cher Lloyd; R&B quartet JLS; 2014 runner up Fleur East; and Little Mix, the first group in the history of The X Factor UK to win the competition. To date, every X Factor UK winner has achieved a No. 1 single on the UK music charts.

The X Factor is a global hit entertainment format that is now produced in 53 territories and has been watched by more than a half billion people worldwide. The X Factor franchise has discovered and launched more international breakout artists than any other singing competition series, with X Factor artists amassing a combined global total of more than 200 million record sales. The format is owned and created by Syco Entertainment, and co-produced/licensed by FremantleMedia worldwide.

ABOUT AXS TV
AXS TV is the cable industry's leading general entertainment network for live event programming, and the premier destination for some of the nation's biggest music festivals in 2015. Launched in July 2012 by visionary entrepreneur Mark Cuban, AXS TV is dedicated to providing groundbreaking music programming, stand-up comedy performances from today's top comedians, and hard-hitting mixed martial arts promotions. Boasting over 80 hours of exclusive live broadcasts of premier music festivals in 2015 (featuring Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Stagecoach Country Music Festival, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Rock on the Range Music Festival and Firefly Music Festival), the HD channel heavily concentrates on bringing the industry's biggest names directly into their viewers' homes, for the ultimate front row experience. Other hit network franchises include THE X FACTOR UK and original programs such as THE BIG INTERVIEW with Dan Rather; THE WORLD'S GREATEST TRIBUTE BANDS, GOTHAM COMEDY LIVE, ART MANN PRESENTS, AXS TV FIGHTS and INSIDE MMA.

AXS TV is a partnership between Mark Cuban, AEG, Ryan Seacrest Media, Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and CBS. The network is available in the United States via AT&T U-verse, Charter, Comcast/Xfinity, DIRECTV, DISH, Suddenlink, Verizon FiOS, and other cable, satellite and telco providers. The network is also distributed in Canada and the Caribbean. For more information, visit the website, www.axs.tv; go to the Facebook page here and follow the company on Twitter, @axstv; on Instagram; Tumblr; Cyber Dust and YouTube.

ABOUT SYCO ENTERTAINMENT
Syco Entertainment is a joint venture between Simon Cowell and Sony Music and is one of the world's leading global music, film and television production companies responsible for some of the world's most successful global TV and music franchises. Syco Entertainment is also the world's most successful producer of international talent with Syco Music being the UK's number 1 record label for both A&R and sales and is record label home for such diverse international recording artists as Labrinth, One Direction, Leona Lewis, Susan Boyle, Little Mix, IL Divo, Fifth Harmony, Alex & Sierra and Ella Henderson. Syco's television assets include the global franchises The X Factor and Got Talent. Local versions of The X Factor are produced in more than 53 territories, with artists discovered by the format selling more than 200 million records worldwide, including 200 number ones and 380 top 10 records. The Got Talent format is officially the world's most successful reality TV format of all time, holding the Guinness World Records title for the "Most successful TV format of all time" having been commissioned in an impressive 66 territories worldwide. America's Got Talent also airs in 193 countries around the globe and has been the #1 US summer reality series for the past decade. Syco Film produced the 2013 #1 global box office hit " One Direction: This Is Us"  a 3D concert movie with Sony Pictures and have recently partnered with Animal Logic (The Lego Movie, Happy Feet) to produce a number of music-based live action-hybrid animated movies. 

ABOUT FREMANTLEMEDIA
FremantleMedia is one of the largest creators, producers and distributors of television brands in the world.  It is responsible for many of the world's highest rated prime time entertainment, drama, factual, kids & family and digital programming, with capabilities that extend from content creation to licensing, branded entertainment, gaming and home entertainment. The FremantleMedia Group comprises global divisions including International, Drama and Entertainment Development, Kids & Family Entertainment, and Digital & Branded Entertainment. The company has an outstanding global network with operations in 28 countries, creating over 10,000 hours of programming a year, rolling out more than 45 formats and airing 350 programmes a year worldwide. The company also distributes more than 20,000 hours of content in over 200 territories. FremantleMedia has some of the world's most famous and long running formats in its catalogue, and globally produces such programmes as: Idols, Got Talent (co-produced with Syco in the UK and the US), The X Factor (co-produced with Syco in the UK and the US), Take Me Out, Family Feud, The Price is Right, Farmer Wants A Wife, Gute Zeiten Schlechte Zeiten, Wentworth, Neighbours, Generation War, Grand Designs, Project Runway, Tree Fu Tom,  Strange Hill High, Munchies (with VICE Media) and Full Time Devils.  FremantleMedia is part of RTL Group, the leading European entertainment network, which is in turn 75.1 percent owned by the international media company Bertelsmann. www.fremantlemedia.com

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SOURCE AXS TV

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