Simon Cowell lashes out over The Voice, X Factor showdown

LOS ANGELES (REUTERS) - An angry Simon Cowell hit back at NBC on Thursday for a late decision to pit singing contest The Voice in direct competition with his revamped The X Factor season premiere next week, calling it a mean-spirited spoiling tactic.

NBC fired a new round in the ratings war in the crowded television (TV) talent show market by announcing it would air a third night of The Voice next Wednesday - the very night X Factor returns to Fox with new judges Britney Spears and Demi Lovato.

"It is a spoiling tactic. They (NBC) don't want people to see this first episode. I think it is mean spirited and I hope and I pray it backfires on them because this is one of the best shows we have ever made," Cowell told reporters on a telephone conference call.

"I am pissed off about it, because I think there's a kind of gentleman's agreement (not to go head to head). But we have to rely that the viewers will make the right selection," the sharp-tongued British TV entrepreneur said.