Howard Stern 'to replace Cowell on Idol'

Howard Stern is said to be producers' first pick to replace Simon Cowell on American Idol.

The radio "shock jock" and media personality would fill the vacant Idol seat next season at the end of his contract with Sirius XM, an uncensored satellite radio service.

"It's one of the few shows that could compete with Stern's $100 million-a-year Sirius contract, and Idol bosses think he'd be even nastier than Simon," a source told the New York Post.

"They know he would be great TV and would clash with the other judges, such as Ellen DeGeneres, and the contestants. Idol will do what it takes to sign him."

However, another source claimed that Stern is not ready to leave his 35-year career in radio.

Stern, the self-proclaimed "King of All Media", rose to fame in the 1980s and '90s for his morning radio programme on New York City's WXRK.