The X Factor
The X Factor is a television music competition franchise created by British producer Simon Cowell and his company SYCOtv. It originated in the United Kingdom, where it was devised as a replacement for Pop Idol, and has been adapted in various countries. The "X Factor" of the title refers to the undefinable "something" that makes for star quality.
The prize is usually a recording contract, in addition to the publicity that appearance in the later stages of the show itself generates, not only for the winner but also for other highly ranked contestants.
Unlike Idols, where the judges only critique the contestants' performances, on The X Factor each judge "mentors" the finalists in a particular category, aiding them with song selection and styling, while also participating together in judging the contestants in the other categories. Not only Idols, but also new singing shows such as The Voice, The Four and All Together Now have become rivals and popular in recent years.
Similar to Got Talent, the franchise maintains a YouTube channel, called X Factor Global. The channel uploads clips of X Factor shows from around the world. The channel currently has over 3 million subscribers. There are many more channels like this. Additionally, many individual X Factor shows have their own YouTube channels such as X Factor India.
''The X Factor'' around the world
There have been a total of 193 winners of The X Factor worldwide.Franchise currently airing
Franchise not currently airing, but slated to return in the future
Ended franchise
Franchise cancelled during production
Franchise whose status is unknown
| Local title | Network | Hosts | Judges | Winner | |
| Albania Kosovo | X Factor | TV Klan | |||
| The X Factor سير النجاحX | Rotana CBC MBC 4 | ||||
| ԻՔՍ–ՖԱԿՏՈՐ X–Factor | Shant TV | ||||
| Australia | The X Factor | Seven Network Network Ten | |||
| X Factor Adria | TV Sitel Federalna RTV Pink RTL Televizija Prva RTRS | ||||
| Belgium | X Factor | vtm | |||
| Bolivia | Factor X Bolivia | Red Uno | |||
| Brazil | X Factor | Band TNT | |||
| Bulgaria | X Factor | NovaTv | |||
| Cambodia | X Factor Cambodia | Hangmeas | |||
| Chile | Factor X | TVN | |||
| China | ' The X Factor: Passionate Singer ' The X Factor: China's Strongest Voice | Liaoning TV HBS:Hunan TV | |||
| Colombia | El Factor X The X Factor | RCN TV | |||
| Colombia | ' The X Factor: Battle of the Stars | RCN TV | |||
| Colombia | El Factor Xs | RCN TV | |||
| Colombia | El Factor X Familia | RCN TV | |||
| Czech Republic | X Factor | TV Nova | |||
| Czech Republic Slovakia | X Factor | Prima family TV JOJ | |||
| Denmark | X Factor | Current TV 2 Former DR | |||
| Ecuador | Factor X Kids Ecuador | Ecuavisa | |||
| Finland | X Factor | MTV3 | |||
| France | X Factor | W9 M6 RTL–TVI | |||
| X Factor Georgia X ფაქტორი | Rustavi 2 Imedi TV | ||||
| Germany | X Factor | VOX Sky 1 | |||
| Greece Cyprus | The X Factor | ANT1 Skai TV Open TV Omega | |||
| Hungary | X-Faktor | RTL Klub | |||
| Iceland | X Factor | Stöð 2 | |||
| India | X Factor India | Sony Entertainment TV | |||
| Indonesia | X Factor Indonesia | RCTI | |||
| Iran | Stage | Manoto | |||
| Israel | The X Factor ישראל The X Factor Israel | Current Reshet 13 Former Channel 2 Reshet | |||
| Italy | X Factor | Current Sky Uno TV8 Former Rai 2 | |||
| Japan | X Factor Okinawa Japan | Okinawa TV | |||
| Kazakhstan | X Factor | Perviy Kanal Evraziya | |||
| Latvia | X Faktors | TV3 | |||
| Lithuania | X Faktorius | TV3 | |||
| Malta | X Factor Malta | TVM | |||
| Myanmar | The X Factor Myanmar | MRTV 4 | |||
| Netherlands | X Factor | RTL 4 | |||
| New Zealand | The X Factor | TV3 | |||
| Norway | X Factor | TV 2 | |||
| Philippines | The X Factor Philippines | ABS–CBN | |||
| Poland | X Factor | TVN | |||
| Portugal | Factor X | SIC | |||
| Romania | X Factor | Antena 1 | |||
| Russia | Секрет успеха Secret of Success Фактор А The A Factor Главная сцена The Main Stage | RTR Russia 1 | |||
| Slovenia | X Faktor | POP TV | |||
| South Africa | The X Factor SA | SABC 1 | |||
| Spain | Factor X | Cuatro Telecinco | |||
| Sweden | X Factor | TV4 | |||
| Thailand | The X Factor Thailand | Workpoint TV | |||
| Turkey | X Factor: Star Işığı | Kanal D | |||
| Ukraine | The X Factor | STB | |||
| United Kingdom | The X Factor | ITV | |||
| United Kingdom | ' | ITV | |||
| United Kingdom | ' | ITV | |||
| United Kingdom | ' | ITV | |||
| United States | The X Factor | Fox | |||
| United States | El Factor X The X Factor | MundoFox | |||
| Vietnam | The X Factor Vietnam Nhân tố bí ẩn | VTV3 | |||
| West Africa | X Factor | AIT, NTA, STV, ViaSat, WAP TV |
;Notes
- As a one-off judge replacing Prūsaitis
- Also shown in Republic of Ireland and in series 3, 4, 7 and 13 auditions were held in Dublin, and viewers in Ireland were allowed to vote. The UK version of The X Factor is also shown in Malta on channel TVM.