MBC's "I Am a Singer" not bought by "American Idol" producer

Cast of MBC's singing competition "I Am a Singer" [MBC]

The purchaser of major Korean broadcaster MBC's singing competition "I Am a Singer" has yet to be decided, MBC said on Monday.

Several media outlets had reported early in the day that one of the producers to "American Idol" has acquired the format for "Singer" but an official with MBC's global business department told 10Asia over the phone that "neither a producer nor broadcaster has been set."

The official then added, "The decision is getting delayed a little because we're at the start of the year but we're in the midst of holding active discussions on it."

It was last June that the show's producer Shin Jung-soo first mentioned that his team is looking into exporting "Singer" to the U.S. and Japan.

Then MBC's executive president Kim Jae-chul said in November that the format has been sold to the U.S. for a million dollars and to China as well but without disclosing a figure for it.

Since its premiere in March 2011, "Singer" has been recognized and popular for its unique format of having actual singers, and only the most highly regarded in Korea, compete against each other to stay on the show based on votes by a 500-member audience composed of ordinary citizens.

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