Report: Ryan Seacrest In Negotiations For Big 'Idol' Raise

Updated 8:00 PM EST, Fri, Jul 10, 2009

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Ryan Seacrest is reportedly close to sealing a deal which will see him get a big raise for hosting "American Idol."

Seacrest, who has helmed the show since its inception stateside in 2002, is reportedly negotiating a contract extension with 19 Entertainment, which produces the reality show for FOX.

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According to The Hollywood Reporter, Seacrest earned a little less than $5 million for his work on "Idol's" Season 8, but the new deal — an amount for which was not disclosed — might make him reality TV's highest paid host.

Seacrest is also reportedly growing his relationship with the company and might develop a series with the creator of "American Idol," 19 Entertainment's Simon Fuller, according to the paper.

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Reps for 19 Entertainment, FOX and Fremantle, which also produces the show, would not comment to The Hollywood Reporter on the news.

Seacrest isn't the only "Idol" star in contract negotiations. Judge Paula Abdul recently told the Associated Press she had been asked back, but was working on securing a new deal to stay.

"I've been invited to stay the duration of the show, however long it lasts," she said.

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Additionally, Simon Cowell is also working on a new agreement to stay on the program.

While reports surfaced in the last month that the British judge had been offered up to $144 million to stay with "Idol," on June 30, Cowell told Access Hollywood that a number was not on the table.

"We're in a very amicable negotiation," Cowell previously told Access. "I'm not commenting about the money. It hasn't even been discussed yet."

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