NBC renews 'America's Got Talent'

NBC is renewing summer reality hit "America's Got Talent" for a sixth season.

The Peacock is bring back the competition series for another round next summer after a strong performance this year that has "Got Talent" ranking as the highest-rated summer series.

The show's performance also roughly matches last year despite two key talent changes. NBC and producers FremantleMedia North America replaced David Hasselhoff with Howie Mandel on the judging panel, and swapped Jerry Springer for Nick Cannon as host.

Such dramatic on-air changes have proven to be treacherous lately, with talent shakeups on Fox's "American Idol" and "So You Think You Can Dance" coinciding with ratings declines.

With viewers particularly responding warmly to Mandel joining the show, "Got Talent" proved that veteran reality shows don't have to keep their original formula intact to maintain their numbers. "Got Talent" has ranked as the most-watched summer series for five consecutive years and has averaged 11.8 million viewers and a 3.4 adult demo rating.

The show has also been aided this summer by the discovery of Jackie Evancho, the 10-year-old Pittsburgh opera singer who's being compared to UK "Got Talent" sensation Susan Boyle.