The X Factor has just been cancelled, American Idol is winding down, and The Voice ratings have been falling as well. Even so, CBS thinks now is the perfect time to enter the reality TV singing competition genre with a new series helmed by former American Idol showrunner Nigel Lythgoe.
The new CBS singing competition show will be called In The Spotlight. The series is reportedly based on a Turkish program called Keep Your Light Shining, which features 12 contestants on a dark stage given just a few seconds to sing a part of a song under a spotlight. The program was created by Globel Agency CEO Izzet Pinto.
“We noticed that international buyers were always looking for singing talent formats and there was room in the market for something fresh and original. With its strong visual appeal and plenty of audience interactivity, Keep Your Light Shining ticked all the boxes for our buyers,” Pinto said.
Catherine Stryker, Global Agency’s head of sales who brokered the deal in the US, added: “While we have made great inroads into the US market, this development is an important one for us. We look forward to seeing this version and the other international productions that are planned throughout 2014.”
In addition to his role as a showrunner and mentor on American Idol, Nigel Lythgoe is also the co-creator of So You Think You Can Dance. CBS has plenty of other reality shows, such as Survivor, Big Brother, and The Amazing Race. However, this is the first singing competition-themed series for the network. No word yet on when the show might debut.