American Idol sets Text Messaging Record for TV Show

AT&T announced that the latest season of American idol generated more than 78 million text messages as watchers voted for their favorite contestants.

[via I4U]

Text Message Gambling?

Some of the most popular television shows like “Deal or No Deal,” “The Apprentice” and “One vs. 100″have been raking in cash from text message contests. The New York Time's Bits Blog reports.

"Networks share the revenues with cell phone carriers. The 99 cent charges are clearly disclosed to viewers. Yet, some viewers are upset about it.

Two game show fans in Georgia, a hairdresser and a secretary, have filed a class-action suit in Los Angeles alleging that these shows’ contests equate to gambling.

It’s unclear if the lawsuits will go anywhere, but in the meantime, Limbo, a cell phone entertainment company, is promoting its Web site as a solution to the problem.

Limbo has created a point system for text message contests, which lets people who participate in contests earn points that can be redeemed for CDs, magazines, toys and other goodies. Limbo says that the game shows should offer all viewers who participate in their text message contests something in exchange."

Suits allege texting games on 'Apprentice,' other TV shows violate lottery rule

According to RCRnews, a hairdresser and a secretary from Georgia, among others, ave filed a class-action lawsuit against "The Apprentice," "Deal or No Deal" and "One vs. 100," alleging the shows' mobile games constitute illegal gambling.

"The suits, which are pending in federal court in Los Angeles, point to the lack of legal clarity when it comes to nascent marketing technologies—and to just how careful media companies and marketers must be to ensure their promotions fall within the law.

The lawsuits attack the games on the grounds that they charge viewers a 99-cent premium text-messaging fee to participate, a violation of what is known as the Standard Lottery Rule. That premium fee is applied on top of the basic text-message fee. The show's producers, the network and the cellphone carrier split the revenue.

... The games, which offer the option of entering for free online, could have gotten around the lottery laws had they offered something of value in return for the 99 cents, according to legal experts.

"It's a serious shot across the bow to some of these promotions," said Joseph Lewczak, an attorney with Davis & Gilbert who specializes in mobile-related legal issues.

"Charging a premium fee for a text message, which provides the entrant with no bona fide product or service, may be deemed illegal," he said. "It is important not to overlook the fact that, though mobile entertainment may be a new and fast-developing medium, this medium is not exempt from the laws that would otherwise apply in the brick-and-mortar world."

12,000 TV viewers sign up as donors during hoax "Kidney Donor Show"

Well, something really good did come out of the hoax Dutch "Kidney Donor Show".

Not only did the show did create (worldwide) awareness of the scarcity of donor organs, but 12,000 TV viewers signed up by text messaging to become future donors. [via TSR (In French)]

UK. The phone-in shows under scrutiny

The UK TV industry has been shaken by a number of allegations that phone-in votes and competitions have misled callers. The BBC sums it up show by show.

China. Viewers' SMS decide how scripts end

According to Shangai Daily, the more Chinese TV viewers are attracted by tough, realistic US TV drama series like "Prison Break" and "24," the more dissatisfied they are with the domestic offerings - criticized as empty, boring and lacking creativity.

"My Prince," a local TV romance drama is designed to change that and viewers practically write the script, decide the fate of characters and may become stars themselves. It's a first on the Chinese mainland.

For the first time, audiences can help decide how the story by sending short messages. Each episode has several open endings. Based on the short message votes, the director will choose the one with the most votes."

Similar endeavours elsewhere

-- "Accidental Lovers" allows TV viewers to choose outcome of new show BT new show, 'Accidental Lovers', on Finnish TV, will allow users to send text messages, causing the show's characters to either fall in love or break up.

-- «InYrShoes» (2003) - A soap opera in the UK called «InYrShoes» will not be decided by scriptwriters but by viewers using text messages...

-- (2005) - Fans can 'text' outcome of TV storyline - Viewers can vote via text messaging on their Cingular cell phones whether or not a character should kiss his sister-in-law...

Traditional opera adapted in TV competition show

Chinese reality TV show, "Fei Chang You Xi," which shifts from modern dance to traditional Chinese opera, will invite non-opera artists and actors to be contenders and perform operas.

"The winners will be decided through judge's marks and audience votes through SMS.

The organizer of the show said the show aims to promote traditional Chinese culture and opera.

A grand premiere ceremony will be aired globally this Friday night on Dragon TV. Chinese opera masters Mei Jiubao and Tan Xiaozeng will attend the premiere. Chinese-American actress Lisa Lu, the only Asian jury member at the Academy Awards, is also expected to perform one classic piece from the Peking opera "Ding Jun Shan."

T-shirt mystery makes CSI: NY television debut

The founders of edoc laundry, a new T-shirt company, are hiding clues to an online murder mystery in the graphics of their apparel-- in an upcoming episode of CSI: NY. Reuters reports.

"The episode of television's CSI: NY, dubbed "Hung Out to Dry," airs October 11 on CBS and illustrates how television is paying close attention to other mediums like the Internet, mobile phones and gaming.

In the CSI:NY episode, two victims of grisly murders have nothing in common but the clothes on their backs: Their T-shirts contain hidden codes that could point to the killer."

Audience participation by SMS on French TV shows. A gold mine

Swiss weekly TV8 (in French), reports on the success of viewer participation by SMS on French TV shows and the broadcasters' newly found good fortune.

There's hardly a show on the air today from French television - be it in entertainment, politics or sports - that does not sollicit viewer participation by text messaging in some way.

Encouraging television viewers to send SMS has become a means in itself. Whereas before TV shows were doing their best to get viewers to stick with their show and not change channels, they now plead for their vote, their opinion, their feedback - by SMS.

The total text messaging votes for the French television channels combined reached 100 million euros ($126 million) in 2005.

And 2006 is looking even better. For the first semester of 2006, TF1 has already reached 100 million euros and Channel M6, for the first time, has earned more with SMS than with with advertising.

Lucky text message wins woman $200,000

A Springfield woman won $200,000 Monday night on NBC's hit game show "Deal or No Deal ", by text messaging the correct answer. News.Leader.com reports.

"Vivian Glover was one of two who won a play-at-home game in which viewers guess which of many cases on the stage contains the prize by text messaging on their cell phones or by logging onto the Web site."

Watchdog checks Big Brother vote

The premium rate phone watchdog has launched an investigation into Channel 4's decision to allow evicted housemates back on to Big Brother, reports BBC News.

Some 2,700 complaints have been sent to Icstis from viewers unhappy at being asked to vote again for contestants they thought had left for good. "The majority of the complainants believe that they have been misled as they were under the impression that they had voted to evict the contestants permanently," the regulator's statement said.

The inquiry could result in Channel 4 refunding an estimated £3m to people who took part with phone or text votes. The watchdog could decide to fine Big Brother's premium rate service providers up to £250,000 or bar their phone lines and text voting facilities. Alternatively it may rule that guidelines have been followed and that there is no case to answer.

Television's New Joy of Text

The number of TV shows that allow audiences to participate through text messaging has skyrocketed as programmers seek out new revenue sources and try to encourage people to watch shows when they are aired, rather than on tape or video on demand, reports the WSJ.

... "The U.S. has been slow in adopting text voting because programmers have to deal with several time zones and several different wireless network technologies, says Mr. Andrade. In most countries, there is only one time zone and one dominant wireless network technology.

... Revenue from text messaging is not insignificant. Last summer, viewers sent over 500,000 text-message votes within two days during the reality show "Big Brother," which charged 49 cents a pop. In the spring season, NBC's game show "Deal or No Deal" earned enough money from premium text-messaging votes to cover the more than $1 million sweepstakes prize money. Viewers of the show cast a total of 57 million votes, both online and via text message.

... In the U.K., revenue from phone and text-messaging services for TV programs came to about $457 million in 2005, compared with almost zero in 2000, according to an industry-funded regulatory body that tracks premium telecom services in that country.

While many shows allow people to vote on the Internet free of charge, the cellphone is a particularly effective tool for casting a ballot. "Cellphone is the best way to make television interactive because you can participate without getting out of the couch," says Mr. Roeding. "

Project Runway's Mobile Features

Project Runway, is a successful reality show hosted by supermodel Heidi Klum, where 15 talented fashion designers compete for the opportunity to show in the world-renowned Bryant Park tents during New York's Fashion Week.

Kicking off it's thrid season, Project Runway will add interactive accessories, including SMS content and an “Adopt a Character” mobile-interactive offering.

And for an added fee of $1.99 per month during the remaining two months of the series, fans will be able to choose their favorite contestant and receive three SMS messages per installment from that contestant. [via Moco News]

Southern texting conspiracy might explain 'American Idol' results

Text-savvy Southerners may help explain why all five “ American Idol” winners hail from south of the Mason Dixon line, according to figures from The NPD Group, reports RCRNews.

... “Cingular has partnered with the show’s producers to provide text-message voting solely from Cingular phones, so it’s certainly possible that Southern subscribers might have more a voting edge than those in other regions in the U.S.,” said Drew Hull, wireless industry research director for NPD. “Had ‘American Idol’ partnered with another carrier with a higher percentage of their subscriber base in another region, the results might have been different.”

Wheel of Fortune ads text messaging to game show

According to Broadcasting Cable, syndicated game show the Wheel of Fortune "will become the latest television show to add a text-messaging component when it runs a one-week text-based sweepstakes the week of May 15-19".

"A trip to Hawaii is the grand prize in their "Text me to Paradise Sweepstakes," the first time the show has tried a text-messaging promotion."

Interactive Hospital Soap txting game

New Zealand’s No 1. soap Shortland Street goes mobile as fans compete for a role on the popular show in a new text game, reports 160characters.org.

"Shortland Street is medical drama about the lives and loves of the doctors, nurses, staff and patients of Shortland Street hospital.

The Shorty St Txt game tests fans knowledge of the show and gives them a sneak peak into upcoming storylines.

Quiz questions relating to the current episode are sent to a fan’s mobile about half an hour before each night’s episode. " contd.

"The Biggest Loser'' reality show to deliver diet tips by SMS

This season, NBC is tying in a text messaging campaign with their popular reality show, "The Biggest Loser", for inspiring and motivational tales of weight loss. Now, viewers can take useful information from the show with them wherever they go, thanks to The Biggest Loser Mobile Subscription service.

Every weekday, subscribers receive the "best of" tips from the show -- from practical diet hints to fun workout facts by text-message. Viewers can sign up for the service, which costs $2.99 a month, by texting in the letters "BL" to 62288 (NBCTV). [more in Press release].

Cellphones bring dialogue and revenue to TV shows

Worldwide, production budgets are going down at all TV stations because advertising is down, but a blossoming genre, called "SMS TV" or "participation TV," in which viewers contribute not only their opinions and votes but also cold cash via their phones (American Idol, Big Brother), is bringing in much welcome revenue. Doreen Carvajal reports for the IHT.

"The tide of calls, televotes and text messages - billed at premium rates of more than 1 a message - are building a market that could top 750 million, or more than $900 million, in Europe by the end of the year, according to a McKinsey consulting report.

To hook viewers on their handsets, producers are focusing on universal topics like love and money, and eclectic ones like cosmetic surgery.

Some of the shows:

-- Matchmakers: The show invites viewers to send text messages for a computer to calculate the chances of a successful romantic match based just on the two first names of the couple. The show, which has now spread to 20 countries, airs on MTV's Dutch subsidiary, TMF, and receives an average of 10,000 text messages a day.

- Cheater Meter: Uses a computer model, to calculate odds of people cheating on their partner. Viewers send SMS messages containing a name, residence and additional information about the "cheater." The message is then shown live on the screen along with music videos, and another SMS message is sent back to a participant's mobile phone.

- Cosmetic Surgery Live in Britain can take a break from watching the operating room to send in camera-phone pictures of their own body parts for consultation with a surgeon. The price of discussing potential repair work with a waiting surgeon is £1, or $1.75, a minute.

- Psychic Interactive: Is an afternoon television show on the Sky channel, is also offering individual attention with video calls made from third-generation cellphones. The program appears in a split screen, allowing callers to communicate with Trevor, the Reiki master, or Rosa, the clairvoyant, while watching the show.

For M6, the second-ranked television channel in France, more than 30 percent of its total revenue of 1.2 billion now comes from Web merchandising, home shopping, CD and DVD sales and telephone and text messaging. Of that, telephone revenue makes up about a third, according to Jerôme Dillard, director of diversification for M6."

What happens next? You decide, as Channel 4 launches interactive drama

A new Channel 4 drama will take the trend to its logical conclusion, offering viewers the chance to shape an entire storyline by voting on the direction it should take and allowing them to play god with the fate of its central characters, reports The Guardian.

Each episode of Dubplate Drama will end with a dilemma for the central character, Dionne, played by the critically lauded female MC Shystie. Viewers will be invited to text in their decision, with their choice influencing the action in the next episode.

"In an effort to reflect rapidly changing media habits, the interactive series will also air on the digital channels MTV Base and E4, and will be made available to watch on Sony's new PSP device and in a cut-down version on the mobile phone network 3."

See other innovative ways television networks have used SMS and MMS:

-- 'Hollyoaks' to pull viewers into storylines using SMS - A UK soap opera called Hollyoaks offers the series' fans the option to sign up on their Website to receive daily text messages from the show's characters, allowing the viewer to "be one step ahead with the latest on all the big storylines before they hit the screen"

-- Soapy secrets via SMS - Soap Confidential, gives ABC soap fans sneak preview information from their favorite characters through premium text messaging service.

-- Voted sexiest soap actor by SMS - US network channel ABC employed text messaging to have fans vote for the sexiest male actor of soap opera 'All my Children'.

-- «InYrShoes» - The plot of a UK soap called «InYrShoes» is not decided by scriptwriters, but by viewers sending text messages at the end of each episode, featuring a cliffhanger or dilemma.

-- Jong-Zuid: First picture soap opera for mobile phones The Netherlands came up with the first Picture Soap, Jong-Zuid, starring famous soap opera actors.

-- American Idol sways Americans into texting -- Nearly 2.5 million AT&T Wireless customers cast their votes by SMS for their favorite American Idol contestant

Pop culture grabs limelight

According to The Age, the election of China's latest popular music star by millions of text messages has set Chinese pundits pondering the bizarre byproducts of democracy.

"Li Yuchun, a 21-year-old from Sichuan described as "the androgynous girl with the weakest voice of the top five", won the final battle of Super Girl on Friday night after getting 3.5 million votes from fans all over China.

Votes were made by text messages, with each mobile number allowed up to 15 votes. The slim, shaggy-haired Li topped Zhou Bichang, 20, who got 3.2 million votes."

Voting fraud hits Israeli version of Idol

Producers of Israel's version of American Idol said they were investigating possible voting fraud during the reality show's live broadcast, according to TV Entertainment.

Producers said they detected "irregularities" during Monday's broadcast of the singing competition, in which viewers can cast for their favourite singer by phone, the Internet and SMS cellphone text messages.

"Our technology people identified questionable patterns in SMS voting during the voting that could have a dramatic effect on results,"Avi Nir, managing director of the Keshet franchise that produces the show told Israel Army Radio on Tuesday".

China's "American Idol" voters sent 271'000 SMS

The name may not roll off the tongue quite like American Idol does, but that hasn't kept the Mongolian Cow Sour Yogurt Super Girl contest from sweeping China.

Like American Idol, which named its winner Wednesday night, China's Super Girl gives aspiring singing stars a shot at televised fame and fortune.

And amid an Idol-like mania, young women all over China have lunged at the opportunity.

Last week, the spotlight fell on the regional finals and the three-hour program, televised live, featured the five finalists.

In a country where televised fare still features military officers belting out patriotic anthems, viewers have found Super Girl irresistible.

Super Girl is surprisingly participatory. This remains a country where people can't elect their leaders. But they can vote for their favorite singers.

The final round — between Zhao Jingyi (the schoolgirl), She Manni (the glamour queen), and Huang Yali (the tomboy) — was decided by more than 271,000 viewer votes cast that evening through text messaging.

'American Idol' Sets Record With 41.5 Million SMS

Cingular Wireless announced today it has set a new record for wireless text messaging in the fourth season of "American Idol." The company recorded more than 41.5 million text messages throughout the show's 12-week voting period, which is believed to represent the largest volume of text messaging in a single campaign in the history of the U.S. wireless industry.

The number of text messages in the fourth season of "American Idol" more than tripled the amount of text messages recorded in the 2004 season.

[via mobiledia.com]

Text-Messaging Helps Bring the Mets Back to NYC Cable Viewers

In an interesting use of SMS text-messaging, New York Mets' and Knicks' fans were sent SMS text-messages to enlist their support in putting MSG Network and Fox Sports New York back on cable television. [via eMediaWire]

"The effort began with the creation of a protest website www.givebackmsg.com, a place where fans could air their opposition to the TWC decision and also serve as a forum for discussion on the issue.

To help drive fan awareness and traffic on the protest site, MSG enlisted the assistance of Insite Media Group and Unwired Appeal to send SMS text-message alerts to an opt-in list of both Knicks' and Mets' fans."

Police investigate Dutch MTV for 'SMS scam'

MTV encouraged young viewers to continue to vote via SMS for 'Artist of the Decade' during TMF Awards ceremony broadcast earlier this month, even though the result was already known and had been released to the press in advance. [via DMeurope]

Fans can 'text' outcome of TV storyline

Warner Bros is calling it a television first. At the end of the April 19th episode of One Tree Hill, viewers can vote via text messaging on their Cingular cell phones whether or not a character should kiss his sister-in-law. The outcome of the vote will determine the storyline for the April 26th episode of the show. [via Lost Remote via Unmediated]

Actually, this is not a first. In 2003, a UK soap called «InYrShoes» offered viewers the option of sending text messages at the end of each episode, to vote and decide which way the cliffhanger or dilemma should go.

Seacrest on your cell phone

Cingular Wireless has announced a bunch of Idol features for customers (anyone who watches the Fox talent competition may have gathered that the carrier is an official sponsor of the show). [via Broadband]

"Among the Idol-on-your-phone attractions: a wireless fan club; a vote number reminder that sends text messages listing all the idols and their codes; Idol trivia (just how many times did Simon utter the word "dreadful" during season three?); and ring tones that include the show's theme song, the familiar "Seacrest Out!"salute and hits by such past Idol faves as Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Clay Aiken and Fantasia Barrino.

Fans of AMERICAN IDOL Can Chat With Each Other and With Stars Via SMS

Fans of American Idol TV show can now chat with one another by using their Cingular mobile phones, writes Mobile Burn.

Two chat services are available: "Idol Chat," a community based service that allows AMERICAN IDOL fans to communicate with other IDOL fans, and "Idol Interview," a service that allows fans to interview the featured American Idol celebrity guest. Charges will appear on the customer's mobile phone bill.

Participants enter a chat room where they exchange text messages on their handset. Every message is read and cleared by moderators before being sent.

In Idol Interview, one celebrity takes the "stage" and answers questions posed by the participating wireless audience. One star chat is planned per week, running for at least 30 minutes. Moderators and producers read each text message sent and select as many as they can for the celebrity to answer during the event.

TV viewers vote for Law& Order ending by SMS

Australia's Network Ten is offering viewers the chance to vote by SMS between two different endings to an episode of popular TV show Law & Order, reports C21 Media.net.

"The network is embarking on an ambitious television experiment, which in principle could mean audiences in Queensland end up watching an entirely different outcome to those in New South Wales.

During the final 10 minutes of the Law & Order: Criminal Intent special, the lines will open up allowing viewers to vote via SMS on their preferred ending to the show.

The most popular choice in each specific state will then air immediately after the programme at 22.30 in the form of an additional 10 minutes of programme footage."

Interesting In October the NY Times reported that "Law & Order" was letting viewers vote to save or kill one of its running characters, in a US television first. Only viewers were to vote on the website, not by SMS. (cf related post in textually.org)

Hollyoaks pushes mobile service with exclusive TV pics

Mersey TV, the maker of UK Channel 4's teen soap 'Hollyoaks ', is hoping to cash in on the mobile text alert trend by offering subscribers unseen exerts of the show, reports Revolution Magazine.

"When characters Mandy Richardson and Tony Hutchison fly out to Rome to get married later this week, Mersey TV is offering fans text alerts with extra gossip from the soap. Subscribers to the £1.50 service will receive five daily picture alerts with brief plot outlines via multimedia messaging.

Mersey TV launched its first MMS service last year by offering a 15- to 20-second trailer for the next day's programme.

It also used the technology to recruit young actors for the show, when at least 30,000 people sent in their pictures vying for a place at the 'Hollyoaks' auditions.

Hollyoaks' airs on Channel 4 at 6.30pm weekdays".

Related articles on mobile Soap Operas:

-- Cellpop, The First Cell Phone Drama That is not for your Mama! Cellpop follows the lives of the people who make the hit music we listen to. Each day a new episode is delivered straight to your phone.

-- MMS Soap on Spanish Telefónica Móviles - Móviles has launched FanTESStic, an interactive series with real actors created exclusively for MMS

-- -- Launched on the Internet and closed in the late nineties, the Internet's first Soap, «The Spot» is back - on (Sprint) mobile phone.

-- «InYrShoes» - The plot of a UK soap called «InYrShoes» is not decided by scriptwriters, but by viewers sending text messages at the end of each episode, featuring a cliffhanger or dilemma.

-- Jong-Zuid: First picture soap opera for mobile phones The Netherlands came up with the first Picture Soap, Jong-Zuid, starring famous soap opera actors.