TORONTO – CTV announced that Canadian Idol will "rest" for the 2009 broadcast year "as a result of the current economic climate."
But the popular amateur singing contest has not been cancelled, and CTV “retains the format rights to the series” said a statement from a CTV spokesperson, implying that the show may return for a seventh season in the future.
Other countries have also ‘rested’ their Idol competitions at various times – broadcasters in Germany and Russia both halted production in 2005 between seasons two and three, and the Idol franchise in the Netherlands has rested twice, once in 2005 between their second and third season, and again in 2007 between their third and fourth season.
Quebec’s version of the series, Star Academie, which is owned and aired by Quebecor Media on its TVA network, is returning in 2009 after a multi-year absence.
