X FACTOR U.S!

The international reality show phenomenon X FACTOR U.S will join the list of M-Net super-weight titles on the magic mantle. The new US version of the show with the notoriously supercritical talent judge Simon Cowell as front man will be broadcast on M-Net from early October 2011. Other judges on the panel are Paula Abdul, L.A. Reid and Nicole Scherzinger.

X FACTOR U.S will follow the conclusion of South African Idols season 7. Auditions in front of the producers for the first season take place in Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Seattle, Chicago, and Dallas. X FACTOR U.S has no barriers as it is open to all ages, all styles, solo acts or groups. And the performers aren't the only ones competing - it's judge vs judge, artist vs artist! Simon Cowell's high energy entertainment format that has taken the world by storm will award the show's winner with a record-breaking $5 million record deal - the largest guaranteed prize in television history.

Pierre Cloete, Channel Head of M-Net & M-Net HD says bringing the X FACTOR U.S to M-Net viewers once again proves that the channel has become the home of blockbuster reality shows. "Following the success of American Idol we can’t wait to see the entertainment X FACTOR U.S has in store."

The X FACTOR U.S has been rated the #1 Entertainment Show in the UK for the past three years, reaching record UK audiences in 2009 of 20 million with 60% audience share - it is also the number 1 music entertainment format in Europe.

Head of Acquisitions at the Magic Centre, Tracey Gilchrist, explained that the show is an exclusive for M-Net in South Africa. X FACTOR U.S will follow a similar broadcast pattern to the U.S air dates, reducing the turnaround time between programming in the US and here in South Africa.”

Available on M-Net & M-Net HD as seen on DSTV.