'The X Factor' Renewed for Second Season

Ray Mickshaw / FOX

"The X Factor"

Fox has renewed The X Factor a second season.

The network has given the greenlight on the reality competition series, with the network's head of alternative entertainment Mike Darnell calling it a "monumental success." The announcement comes hours before X Factor airs its Top 12 show, which will prompt viewers to vote via Twitter afterward.

PHOTOS: 'X Factor' Top 17 Finalists: Get to Know the Artists

"I am absolutely thrilled with the news, said Simon Cowell. "I have loved making the show and I want to thank Fox, our sponsors and most importantly the fans for supporting The X Factor."

The X Factor has emerged as another ratings winner for Fox, becoming the top reality series on broadcast thus far this season, outperforming veteran stalwarts like Survivor, The Amazing Race and Dancing With the Stars.

PHOTOS: Behind the Scenes: THR's 'X Factor' Cover Shoot

X Factor, which Cowell said prior to its debut that anything less than 20 million viewers would be a disappointment before backtracking, hovers in the 13 million viweers range and has boosted the network's time period performance on Wednesdays and Thursdays from last year by 78 and 38 percent, respectively. Among the ad-coveted demo, X Factor has increased the network's ratings by 37 and 41 percent on those two nights.

X Factor is judged by Cowell, L.A. Reid, Nicole Scherzinger and Paula Abdul and is hosted by Steve Jones.