Fox cancels Simon Cowell's "The X Factor" after three seasons.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (REUTERS) -  U.S. television singing contest "The X Factor," led by judge and show creator Simon Cowell, was canceled on Friday (February 7) after three seasons, according to TV network, Fox.

Cowell, 54, whose acerbic on-screen personality helped transform "American Idol" into one of the top shows on U.S. television, will also return to the UK version of the show in an effort to help declining ratings there.

"I've had a fantastic time over the last 12 years, both on 'The X Factor' and 'American Idol,' Cowell said in a statement. "And apart from being lucky enough to find some amazing talent on the shows, I have always had an incredible welcome from the American public (most of the time!)."

"The X Factor" was seen as a way for Cowell to put his own stamp on U.S. reality television, as it was a show he created and produced, and helped lead it to popularity in Britain.

The U.S. version of the show struggled to find the right mix on the judging panel, running through nine different judges in its three seasons on the air.

In 2012, Fox spent a reported $15 million to hire pop singer Britney Spears as a judge on the show in a bid to boost ratings, but she was unable to turn her star power into a ratings success for Fox.

Last year, viewership sunk to about 6 million per episode from 9 million in 2012. Its main rival, Comcast Corp-owned NBC's "The Voice" drew about 12 million viewers per episode.

Cowell, a British media and music mogul best known for his biting criticism of contestants that helped draw viewers to "American Idol," will be without a show on U.S. television for the first time since "Idol" began in 2002.