Public Service Media (PSM)’s Maldivian Idol has been scheduled to begin January 22 with 600 participants. According to director Mujuthaba Rasheed, total 30 shows will be aired, but only the final show will receive a live airing. “The first show on the night of 22 will be the first round of [capital] Male’s auditions. Only the final show will be aired live. Then we’ll air the live recordings,” he said. PSM franchised the popular American reality music show “American Idol” into total four rounds. Director Mujuthaba revealed that public voting will commence from the third round onwards, with public votes accounting for fifty percent of the results, alongside judges’ votes. With local telecom giant Dhiraagu as the title sponsor, the final show with the top three contestants is scheduled to be held April 30. PSM has allocated a cash prize of MVR 250,000 to the winner. The three judges of Maldivian Idol are popular local singers Ahmed Ibrahim, Ibrahim Ali and Mariyam Unoosha. Mujuthaba added that the show is already receiving a lot of public support and that he expects it to be a huge success.