MUMBAI: Fox has announced that the age limit to audition for its Popstar-hunt show American Idol has been raised by two years - from 26 to 28.

Fox programming chief Gail Berman is quoted in reports as saying, "the change came about after producers grew tired of turning talented individuals away due to their age."

"I'm sure there are people who are tremendously talented above that, but we're talking about people who hope to have pop careers afterwards," said he.

Auditions for the fourth season of Idol begin on 4 August in Cleveland. Additional tryouts are scheduled in Washington, D.C.; Orlando; St. Louis; New Orleans; Las Vegas; Anchorage; and San Francisco and will continue through 5 October.

Season three winner 19-year-old Fantasia has been riding high at the top of the charts with her first single, "I Believe"/"Chain of Fools," besting the most recent efforts of fellow Idol alums Clay Aiken and Diana DeGarmo, according to Nielsen SoundScan figures.

American Idol has three Emmy nominations this year -- two in technical categories and one for outstanding reality competition program.