London
(ANI):
Music
mogul
Simon
Cowell
has
stated
that
if
ITV
chiefs
do
not
come
up
with
more
money,
the
X
Factor
will
be
axed
from
the
channel.
Cowell,
50,
dropped
the
bombshell
yesterday
when
he
revealed
he
is
not
ready
to
sign
a
new
contract.
And
insiders
have
revealed
he
is
demanding
a
massive
increase
in
the
budget
to
persuade
him
to
stay.
The
show
is
currently
earning
about
1.7million
pounds
for
every
weekend
of
the
live
finals,
and
Cowell
wants
it
to
be
increased
to
at
least
2million
pounds
plus
extra
for
auditions
and
a
pay
rise
for
the
judges.
“Where
we
stand
for
next
year
is
that
we
have
no
deal
for
The
X
Factor," the
Daily
Star
quoted
him
as
saying.
“We
have
to
get
that
sorted
out
first
of
all
and
that"s
a
conversation
I
will
be
having
next
year
with
ITV.
“When
we
do
a
negotiation
with
a
network,
it"s
not
about
salary
for
the
people
on
it,
it"s
how
much
money
they
are
going
to
invest
over
a
period
of
time.
Until
we
have
resolved
that,
I
think
it"s
difficult
to
say
if
we
will
be
back," he
added.
The
final
shows
tomorrow
and
Sunday
are
expected
to
attract
20m
viewers,
bolstering
Cowell"s
argument
at
a
time
when
commercial
channels
are
still
deeply
anxious
about
revenue
from
advertising.