America’s Next Top Model:Renewed for Summer 2013, Adding Men

Though the ratings for America’s Next Top Model have been on the decline for awhile, The CW isn’t cancelling the Tyra Banks competition.

Instead, they’ve renewed it for a 20th cycle which will run next summer and will include both male and female hopefuls.

Here’s the press release:

THE CW ORDERS CYCLE 20 OF “AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL”

For the First Time, Male Models Will Also Compete for the Title of “America’s Next Top Model”

October 16, 2012 (Burbank, California) – The CW Network has ordered Cycle 20 of AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL, it was announced today by Mark Pedowitz, President, The CW. As part of The CW’s on-going strategy to increase the amount of original summer programming on the network, Cycle 20 will debut in summer 2013 with a specific premiere date to be announced at a later time.

In Cycle 20, for the first time, male models will be added to the group of contestants competing for the title of AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL, and will move into the models’ house alongside the women. Also in Cycle 20, viewers will continue to have a direct impact on the competition by voting for their favorite models though social media, helping decide who gets eliminated and who stays in the running to becoming AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL.

“America’s Next Top Model” is produced by 10 by 10 Entertainment in association with The Tyra Banks Company. The executive producers are Ken Mok (“Making the Band”), Tyra Banks and Laura Fuest Silva. The series was created by Tyra Banks and developed by Mok and Kenya Barris. Tyra Banks also hosts the series, which is currently airing its 19th cycle in the United States. Currently, “America’s Next Top Model” is under license in over 100 markets around the world and has 20 international versions in production. “America’s Next Top Model” and the “America’s Next Top Model” format are licensed internationally by CBS Studios International.

What do you think? Do you think The CW should have renewed or cancelled ANTM? Are you more or less likely to tune in next summer, with male models in the mix?