Simon Cowell could be set to leave 'American Idol' and launch the 'X-Factor' in the US when his contract runs out in 2010.
Cowell earns £25 millions a year as a judge and executive producer on 'American Idol', which with 25 million viewers is America’s highest rated TV show.
But he told a US magazine: "I've been on record for two or three years saying the end of the contract is probably when I will leave.
'The producers and I negotiated how long we wanted to spend with each other. We agreed on an absolutely sensible number and, if we wanted to add more years, we would have done it then.
'I think nine seasons is a lot. I've had the best time ever in my life and then you have to consider doing something new or taking a break.
'Everyone thinks it's a negotiation but I don't negotiate like that. If I want more money, I'll ask for it and if they don't want to pay me, they'll say no.'
Ratings for the latest series of 'American Idol' are down and Cowell is said to be keen to bring the more flexible 'X-Factor' format, which took over from the now defunct 'Pop Idol' and 'Popstars' formats in the UK, to the States.
