Fans of American Idol (AI) will be able to continue watching this popular reality singing competition on free TV. For the seventh season of AI, judges Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson and Simon Cowell as well as host Ryan Seacrest, will be seen on QTV-11 instead of ABC-5.

American Idol Season 7 will have a two-night premiere on January 16 and 17 in the Philippines via QTV-11, the sister channel of GMA-7. Part 1 will air on Wednesday at 6 pm while Part 2 will air on Thursday also at 6 pm. The Wednesday telecast will be replayed on Saturday 4 pm while the Thursday telecast will be replayed on Sunday, also at 4 pm. For those unable to watch both episodes, the two-part premiere will be aired again on January 19 at 4 pm.

The two-part premiere shows the auditions that started as early as July 2007 in San Diego, California. Other audition venues are Dallas, Omaha, Atlanta, Charleston, Miami and Philadelphia.

The viewing public will be able to witness the search for the next American Idol who is expected to live up to the standards set by Idol alumni and current hitmakers Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Fantasia Barrino, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Hicks, and Jordin Sparks.

American Idol Season 7 promises a more talented batch of contestants, who shall be allowed to play instruments during their performances.

Aside from a singing contract and cash prizes, the winner of American Idol Season 7 will also get the chance to participate in American Idol All Star show, which will feature all the 7 winners of American Idol (from Season 1 to Season 7) scheduled to premiere later this year. Aside from this, GMA-7 is expected to air the local version of the reality talent search, Pinoy Idol, in April.


QTV can be seen on the following channels: QTV-11 on free TV, on Skycable as channel 24, on Destiny cable as channel 15, on Sun Cable as Channel 19. Meanwhile, in Cebu and Davao, it is on channel 27.