New York Post: 'American Idol' Host Ryan Seacrest in Talks to Develop Rival Show

(New York Post) - Ryan Seacrest was in talks with NBC to develop a rival singing show to "American Idol," the New York Post reported Monday, citing the network.

Seacrest and his production company, Ryan Seacrest Productions, were working on "another music concept, which is a totally different kind of competition show," said Paul Telegdy, NBC's executive vice president of alternative programming. "It is self-contained episodes. It is a bit more fun. It's not contestant-competitive, it's artist-competitive."

Seacrest's plan -- coming one year after Simon Cowell left top-rated "Idol" to produce the US version of "The X Factor" for FOX -- raised the possibility that he was preparing to leave "Idol" after next season.

The new show was in the very early stages of development, and it was too early to say if the mini mogul would continue to host "Idol" or move to NBC to host the new program, officials said.

The timing -- and fit -- could be perfect for NBC, which found a much-needed hit last week in Mark Burnett's new singing competition, "The Voice." Seacrest has just one season left on his $15 million-a-year contract with CKX, the parent of "Idol's" production company, 19 Entertainment. The deal restricts him from appearing on any other broadcast network until 2012.

"He is the unsung hero of 'American Idol,'" show creator Simon Fuller previously said. "Ryan is one person I would not want to lose."

Behind the camera, Seacrest currently has seven unscripted shows on or near air -- including "Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution" on ABC and four different versions of the E! network's "Kardashians" franchise.

Seacrest's company currently has a deal with NBC to develop eight new shows, Telegdy said, and a "first look" agreement with Comcast, which recently acquired the network.

"We are already in business with Ryan's production company and really have been since before the merger," Telegdy said.

But there is still one wild card -- Seacrest was quietly talking about creating his own cable network with Creative Artists Agency and concert giant AEG.

Negotiations were "still very active," he told The Hollywood Reporter last month. But "it will not be branded with my name or my face," he added.

FOX is owned by News Corp., the parent company of the New York Post and NewsCore.

Source: The New York Post