Entertainment

Ryan wants own ‘X Factor’

Ryan Seacrest is in talks with NBC to develop a rival singing show to “American Idol,” according to the network.

Seacrest and his production company are working on “another music concept, which is a totally different kind of competition show,” Paul Telegdy, the network’s head of alternative programming, tells The Post.

“It is self-contained episodes. It is a bit more fun. It’s not contestant competitive. It’s artist competitive.”

Seacrest’s plan — coming one year after Simon Cowell left TV’s top-rated show to produce the US version of “X Factor” for Fox — raises the possibility that he is preparing to leave “Idol” after next season to start his own singing show on a competing network.

The show is in the very early stages of development — too early to say if the mini-mogul would continue to host “Idol” or move to NBC to host the new program, officials say.

“It can take anywhere from 12 months to two years to develop anything these days,” Telegdy says.

The timing — and fit — could be perfect for NBC, which found a much-needed hit last week in Mark Burnett’s new singing competition, “The Voice.” Seacrest has just one season left on his $15 million-a-year contract with CKX, parent of “Idol’s” production company, 19 Entertainment. The deal restricts him from appearing on any other broadcast network until 2012.

“He is the unsung hero of ‘American Idol,’ ” “Idol” creator Simon Fuller has said. “Ryan is one person I would not want to lose.'”

Behind the camera, Seacrest currently has seven unscripted shows on or near air — including “Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution” on ABC and four different versions of E! Channel’s “Kardashians” franchise.

His company currently has a deal with NBC to develop eight new shows, Telegdy says, and a “first look” agreement with Comcast, which recently acquired the network.

“We are already in business with Ryan’s production company and really have been since before the merger,” Telegdy says.

“They were pitching, we were buying and we were developing together. So, I think there will be more of that.”

But there is still one wild card: Seacrest, 36, has been quietly talking about creating his own cable network with Creative Artists Agency and concert giant AEG.

Negotiations are “still very active,” he told The Hollywood Reporter last month. But “it will not be branded with my name or my face.”