American Idol is changing again. As the L.A. Times reports, after a year when the show averaged 7 million viewers per episode, vs the 30 million who were watching in its earlier seasons, Fox Broadcasting announced American Idol programming next year will total only 37 hours instead of the 50 it enjoyed this season. Chairman Kevin Reilly announced the changes while presenting the overall network lineup for next year.

While expressing confidence that the current trio of judges—Jennifer Lopez, Harry Connick, Jr, and Keith Urban—would return next year, Reilly demonstrated little faith in another sort of return, saying, “Idol is not going to come back as the rating champion it once was.” However, he made sure to clarify the network still backed the show, maintaining that it could still be a “potent” performer for Fox “for many years to come.”

As Newsday points out, however, changes are already being felt in the network’s attitude towards its once star performer. At previous upfronts, the spring schedule was announced immediately as it revolved around Idol. This year, no mention was made of the intended spring programming. It is expected the show will be cut from 2 nights a week to 1 when it returns in 2015.