Xfactor.........you've all been had

[eupraxia]

I don;t watch the show it's just not my thing. But I heard this morning that Simon whats his face will be getting �10million pounds out of it and the winner will walk away with practically nothing.

I can't see how so many people can be duped so well. They call in thinking they will be making a difference when all they are doing is lining this blokes pocket. Daylight robbery springs to mind.

[Coobeastie]

Simon will be making big bucks out of it as he is basically x-factor. Shayne's walked away with a Million pound record deal which shouldn't be sniffed at. There's a lot of people out there to whom this would be a dream come true.

[dannydingbat]

But nobody makes anyone watch these programmes or ring up. It can't be daylight robbery because we get a choice. Its the same as the music charts. It's hype, fashion, peer pressure, etc. People who work with others who watch it and get wound up in the whole thing because their own lives are somewhat lacking feel they have to also get involved or they will be "out of the circle". In exploiting this weakness in society, some people will make money. Its only the same as buying lottery tickets, gambling, buying records or even buying Easter eggs. You know it is a bad way to spend money and gives very little in terms of value except to your sense of belonging and self worth, So why not? I choose not to watch these programmes, ring up, gamble, smoke or drink a lot. However, I do spend my money in ways which others will think a bit daft. Everyone should be free to choose, which of course, we are.

[david small]

What's Xfactor????

[lady_p_gold]

Well I thoroughly enjoyed it and Shayne will make a lot of money as long as he is sensible and doesn't go off the rails he should have a good career. Better than selling shoes anyway. There will always be the Simons of this world, but there is nothing to stop anyone else doing what he does if they have what it takes.

[NiceCupOfTea]

I know what you mean, eupraxia. But I was one of those people - I voted for Andy twice - first time by text because the phone line was to busy, then by phone because the group madness had taken me over. At 35 pee a call (or text), they made a cool 3.5 mill on that one night alone.

[Dom Tuk]

And the best part is they ask people to vote right up to the end....and millions do, but they have stopped counting about 20 mins before the programmme ends....so all that last minute dash to vote is just money in their pockets and the votes get wasted....ha...ha

[yummymummy]

But didn't Simon create the show (and the other similar ones) so why shouldn't he make money out of it?

[Supernick]

I have worked in the telecoms industry, and know how the voting figures actually work, and it won't have made ITV 3.5 million. Basically, BT will supply lines to a company who run the numbers for ITV. I imagine that they would receive around the 25p mark at ITV, with about 7p going to the company who build the voting service on the end, and the rest going to BT. It will be a lot less for texting, and the outpayments are smaller. Perhaps �2mill for ITV. Still not a bad profit!!

[Greggo']

yummyyummy - Nigel Lythgoe was the first person to create this kind of show with 'Popstars' a few years ago.

Dom Tuk - Why would they stop counting 20mins before? It makes no sense. What source have you got your info come from?

Personally I like the show. Like Coobeastie says, the winner does get a million pound record contract at the end of it. Simon is an entrepreneur, I don't blame him for making lots of money from it. He's a great entertainer.

eupraxia - if you did watch the show you'd realise how much of an input Simon has on the show. He's the reason most people watch the show.

[libertie]

I think that most people who watch it will realise that someone somewhere will be making a lot of money out of it......so what! Like it or loathe it, it's something the whole family can watch no swearing, sex scenes or violence and the chance for some normal everyday folk to get up there and strut their stuff....it will have been a wonderful experience for them and I'm quite sure none of them regret taking part!

[Dom Tuk]

Lastb week when the betting scam was unearthed it was revealed that the producers of the show and those on teh floor knew the result for the day about 20 mins before the show ended. They thus get all the cue cards and footage of losers ready for the end of the show. This was how the insider at the telephone company got the result out to his mates who then made a bet at betfair.com.

[undercovers]

simon cowell makes millions - its not really a news flash is it, people call in to get the person they want to win a recording contract or just see them again next week... the viewer gets what they want, to participate, and the makers / owners of the concept get a lot of money. money is why tv shows are made, and all these ring to win or vote now business is an oft used money making venture i don't think anyone ever though differently ... so no nobody has been duped

[Supernick]

Dom Tuk is right in a sense. The producers are given constant live updates by the company running the voting aspect, and so constantly know who's in the lead. In the case of a landslide win or loss, they're going to know who's leaving/winning a long way in advance just becasue of the way the voting is going. People are still encouraged to vote in case there is a possibility of changing it.

[eupraxia]

I don't watch because I don't see the point. Its the same thing over and over again. some one gets a few months of fame and then disappear off the face of the planet. U can't help but hear about it cos it's every where.Still i suppose it will be like everything else on tv these days. It will itself disappear into that black hole of fame along with those who greated it and something else will replace it.

I've seen Simon Cowell once and to be honest I wouldn't want to see him again. I'd like to see him as a contestant.

[BillyBB]

It's a great laugh, Simon Cowell's only doing what record companies do all day anyway, getting paid for doing it on TV, getting a huge amount of market research about potential artists and then gets to forget about the 'winner' if he's not interested. Still more people come to compete next year and still the public vote.

Simon does have to share half with Mr Fuller, a court ruled the format was too similar to Pop Idol or something.

[Greggo']

eupraxia - You sound like an negative old bar fly who sits at the end of a bar in a dusty pub rambling on and on, moaning about nothing.

[eupraxia]

Greggo ur just rude fart that can't take a little difference of opinion. All i can say is if thats all u got to add to this thread then don't bother. at least every one else managed to contribute without being rude about it.

If other people like it then that up to them, we are not all the same . I just think that its a lot of money being made over what at the end of the day is not much really. But I would dream of calling people names just because they don't agree with me.

[eupraxia]

Ps yep i called u a rude fart but u started it.

[gucciman]

can anyone explain why that near the end of the series sharon had all her acts left, louis and simon only had 2 each, yet in the final they had 1 act each left. and in the previous series they had 1 act each left in the final. is this a fix to make the final more interesting?