Fox Entertainment President Kevin Reilly fielded questions on contract negotiations with “American Idol” judge Jennifer Lopez during the Television Critics Association press tour, and while he steered clear of revealing specifics about the talks, he said they have a "lot of moving parts," reports the Los Angeles Times’ Company Town blog.

"It’s now a complex deal," Reilly said, adding that one difficulty is figuring out how much value the program brings to the talent, and vice versa.

In retrospect it turned out to be a smart decision for Lopez to sign a one-year deal, the story says, noting that now that the show has performed better than expected, she has the leverage to demand a raise. Time is on her side, the piece adds, with "American Idol" auditions slated to begin in a few weeks, giving her more leverage in any short-term deal.