American Idol to return for five more years

There will be at least five more American Idol winners - and insult-wielding Simon Cowell is booked to do his part in selecting each one.

There will be five more editions of the show, with plans to help fans keep in touch with the contest over the internet and on cell phones.

Key to the deal was the settlement of a lawsuit against Cowell by Simon Fuller, the show's creator, who had claimed that Cowell had copied its format for his new show X-Factor.