Simon Cowell Says "X-Factor" Can Still Reach "Idol" Ratings
By: Brad Reed
Updated: October 5, 2011
No doubt about it.
Simon Cowell brought his hit UK competition series stateside with high hopes. He even set a goal of 20 million viewers.
But the "X-Factor" has yet to hit his ratings mark. Nearly 12 million viewers tuned in the show last week. But Simon says so far - so good.
"I still have big goals. I've just had to learn to adapt," says Cowell. "When I started Idol we started with 9 or 10 million and then at its peak it was like 35 million. Once you've tasted that, you want it back."
"We should want that, right?" adds fellow judge L.A. Reid. "We certainly aren't doing it to not have huge ratings and to not be a huge success. We aspire for greatness and we have some growing to do."
With expectations high in both audience size and talent, this competition show has many factors to take into consideration.
"You've got to listen to what's happening on Twitter, Facebook, and what you read on YouTube," explains Cowell. "That's what really interests me."
Click on the video to see more from Simon, and why Nicole Scherzinger says her career has now come full circle.
