Nellie Andreeva

On the heels of a strong start of its first fall edition, NBC‘s reality series The Voice has been renewed for a fourth and fifth cycle. The fourth-season pickup for next spring is a formality as The Voice was already on the NBC midseason schedule presented to advertisers in May, and the network recently set a celebrity coaching team for it. But the early pickup of a fifth season to air in fall 2013 represents a vote of confidence for the unscripted series and indicates that the network is sticking with the current setup of two Voice cycles a season.

As recently announced, Christina Aguilera and Cee Lo Green will take Season 4 off, with Usher and Shakira taking their spots alongside original coaches Adam Levine and Blake Shelton. “With the addition of Usher and Shakira as rotating coaches to join Christina, , Adam and Blake in the next cycle, we know that this incredibly addictive program will remain even more relevant as we move forward through this exciting season,” NBC chairman Bob Greenblatt said. “My hat is off to John de Mol, Mark Burnett, and everyone who produces this classy and highly entertaining show for us.” In its first fall installment, The Voice is averaging a 4.5 rating through its first two Mondays in adults 18-49 and a 4.3 on its opening two Tuesdays. The Voice hails from Burnett’s One Three, Talpa Media USA and Warner Horizon Television. The series is created by de Mol, who executive produces with Burnett, Audrey Morrissey, Stijn Bakkers and Lee Metzger.

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