Cowell quit threat!
Cash Cowell ... Simon with Olly at press conference
SIMON Cowell has threatened to scrap The X Factor unless ITV coughs up another £3MILLION.
The music mogul is refusing to sign another deal with the channel unless bosses agree to hand over extra funds to make next year's shows "even better".
He is banking on this weekend's final reaching a massive 20 million viewers - bolstering his plea for an increased budget.
Simon, 50, said it was difficult to say whether the show would return next year.
He added: "We're negotiating with the network and it's not about salaries for the people on it - it's how much money are you going to invest over a period of time."
Speaking at a press conference alongside finalist Olly Murs, he added: "We always said we'd stop making the show when people don't want to see it.
"But it's been very successful because ITV have invested a lot into it to make it better.
"I think there is genuine interest from the people behind the show to bring it back - but if we do, it needs to be better than this year."
He said higher ratings since changes to this year's format - including auditions in front of an audience and building a flash £1million stage - proved that people wanted bigger and better shows.
ITV already lavishes £1.7million each weekend on the shows. Simon, who co-produces X Factor, is believed to want another £300,000 spent on ten shows next series.
He is also considering staging next year's final at a huge venue like the 02 in London or Wembley Arena.
Simon is still negotiating his own £7.5million salary with ITV.
He has got Topshop billionaire Philip Green, 57, to thrash out a deal. But he has already agreed to judge Britain's Got Talent next year.
Simon wants to see his fellow judge Cheryl Cole, 26, return if X Factor is back next year - but admits they will need to offer her more than her current £1.2million salary.
The pop star last night said she will take a few months to think about next year.
SALES of TVs have shot up ahead of this weekend's X Factor final, say John Lewis. The chain has sold one every 15 seconds in the past week as people also clamour for bigger sets to see the Strictly Come Dancing semi-final. A spokesman said: "Customers are upsizing in time for those all important finals of X Factor and Strictly."
