Cowell: New 'X Factor' Panel Needs More Americans

(NewsCore) - Simon Cowell remains coy on who will join "The X Factor" judging panel but said Wednesday he won't be reaching across the Atlantic to poach British talent.

"I learned a lot from last year ... learned how to make the show better," he told reporters on a press call about the recent shake-up when judges Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger were given the boot.

Show host, Welsh hunk Steve Jones, was also shown the door following in the footsteps of English singer Cheryl Cole, who was pushed off the judging panel last May shortly after she joined the TV talent contest.

Britney Spears, LeAnn Rimes, Mariah Carey and Fergie are rumored to be under consideration as potential replacements but Cowell said there is a "load of speculation ... some true, some not true."

He confirmed only that the two new judges will be women.

"It's important that we have more Americans on the show," the Englishman added, joking this criteria might leave him without a job.

The rebooted FOX series will also have two hosts instead of the solo act fulfilled by Jones, who was deemed stiff and aloof by some critics.

"They might come from a different background, not current hosts," Cowell hinted. "The role of the traditional host has to change."

Cowell, 52, had a more tepid forecast about ratings for the show's upcoming season -- admitting he was overly excited when he predicted the program's season one premiere would nab 20 million viewers.

In reality, 12.4 million tuned in for the show's launch in September.

FOX Television is owned by News Corp., the parent company of NewsCore.