Final season of American Idol to be slashed by four weeks... as execs claim its all in the name of 'better storytelling'

Published: 17:59 EST, 11 December 2015 | Updated: 19:27 EST, 11 December 2015

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American Idol is going out with a bang - albeit a briefer one.

The talent show's final season is being culled by four weeks, according to reports.

Billboard claims that the season 15 and last ever winner will be announced a month earlier than precious seasons, which have run as long as 43 weeks in the past.

Culled: The final season of American Idol is being slashed by four weeks, according to Billboard (Pictured -season 13/14 judges lineup Keith Urban, Jennifer Lopez and Harry Connick Jr)

'The storytelling works better in [fewer] weeks,' exec producer Trish Kinane told the mag.

'Idol was so successful [that the season] got too extended too much. There are only so many hours that viewers will devote to watching these shows, so if it is shorter this year, it will be a good thing.'

Besides better narrative, another reason the show is being culled may be its plummeting viewership.

Quick finish: The magazine claims that the season 15 and last ever winner will be announced a month earlier than precious seasons, which have run as long as 43 weeks in the past (pictured - season 1-7 lineup Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell)

Last legs: Billboard reports viewship and ad revenue have been steadily declining (pictured - season 12 lineup Mariah Carey, Jackson, Nikki Minaj and Urban with host Ryan Seacrest [L])

Billboard reports that the most recent season drew in just 11 million viewers, less than one-third of its season five peak of 35million.

Ad revenue has as always matched its trajectory: The $628million earned in 2013 fell to $427million in the space of a year.

Similarly, a 30-second as slot in 2011 was worth $500,000. By 2013 it was just $300,000.

Early stars: The shows produce has failed to reach its earlier highs season one a four winners Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood, and season three seventh place finisher Jennifer Hudson

Highligts: Clarkson and Underwood went on to superstardom, while Hudson remains the only contestant with and Oscar and a Grammy

The shows produce has failed to reach its earlier highs too: The likes of season one winner Kelly Clarkson and season four winner Carrie Underwood shot to superstardom, while Jennifer Hudson - who only managed a seventh place finish in season three - went on to win an Oscar and a Grammy. Meanwhile more recent winners have gone nowhere near making that sort of impact.

Host Ryan Seacrest confirmed that all 11 of the judges past and present will be returning for the final season, including Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell, Kara DioGuardi, Ellen DeGeneres, Jennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler, Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj, Keith Urban and Harry Connick, Jr.

However exec producer Nigel Lythgoe insisted the two-night finale 'won't all be a nostalgia fest... We've still got to crown the 15th winner.'

Changing line-up: Host Ryan Seacrest confirmed that all 11 of the judges past and present will be returning for the final season, including seaqson nine's Ellen DeGeneres and Kara DioGuardi (pictured)

Business to do: However exec producer Nigel Lythgoe insisted the two-night finale 'won't all be a nostalgia fest... We've still got to crown the 15th winner' (Pictured season 10/11 lienup Steve Tyler, with Lopez and Jackson)