‘American Idol’ May Be Getting Downsized: Here’s Why…

After falling to a series low rating this season, the long-running American Idol is reportedly being trimmed down. Fox’s entertainment chairman Kevin Reilly confirmed today, May 12, that the singing competition will return for a reduced 14th season in 2015, having only one half-hour show per week.

“Next year the format will be different, there will be less hours, around 37 hours,” said Reilly about American Idol’s downsizing. “I think it will be a two-night format initially during the audition phase, and will quite likely end up as a two-hour show on one night for most of its run.” The new format follows the current season’s poor performance, where the show averaged 12.3 million viewers and a 3.4 rating in the 18-49 demographic.

The show’s current host Ryan Seacrest has already signed a new deal to return for the 14th and possible 15th season of American Idol, and the current judge trio — Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick Jr.— are all expected to return for the new season as well.

Fox has not announced anything official regarding details of Idol‘s season 14, which will air midseason. American Idol continues with its Top 3 performances on Thursday, May 15, at 8pm on Fox.