Spam Moves to Cellphones and Gets More Invasive

Cellphones have become consumers’ most personal technological devices. Some industry executives, along with consumer groups and security experts, are concerned that unwanted text messages on phones will be an even greater headache than unwanted computer messages. [via The New York Times]

"... American consumers are expected to receive an estimated 1.5 billion unsolicited text messages in 2008, according to Ferris Research, based in San Francisco, which tracks mobile messaging trends. That is nearly double what they received in 2006.

Of course that is a small percentage of the overall number of messages: an industry survey showed that consumers in the United States sent and received about 48 billion text messages in December alone. But for many people who are charged as much as 20 cents for an incoming message or are interrupted in the middle of dinner, even one is too many."

Dutch Kidney Donor Show was a hoax

According to French weekly LExpress, the Dutch reality program from BNN, "The Big Donor Show", which aired last night, whereby three ill contestants competed to win a kidney from a terminally ill cancer patient, was a hoax.

In the last minutes of the show, viewers were informed that the 37-year-old terminal patient with a brain tumor as well as the three contestants in need of a kidney transplant, were all actors.

All through the show, which lasted an hour and 20 minutes, viewers were sollicited to send text messages giving their opinion on which of the three contestants was best suited to receive the terminally ill patients kidney.

BNN always claimed the program was a serious attempt to highlight the scarcity of donor organs and to honour the memory of the broadcaster’s founder, Bart de Graaff, who died five years ago at the age of 35. Something they defniteley achieved, but by solliciiting text messages from spectators under false pretenses, is this not a case of fraud? Text messaging is a great source of revenue for TV channels.

Related:

-- Kidney Transplant TV Show Is a Hoax (AP)

-- EU condemns organ donor tv show

-- Dutch TV show has viewers voting on who should get donor organ

EU condemns organ donor tv show

Dutch News reports that The European Commission has condemned Dutch public-service broadcasting network BNN reality show scheduled to air on June 1st - whereby a 37-year-old terminal patient with a brain tumor, will chose, live, on TV, which of three contestants in need of a kidney transplant, will get her kidney once she dies.

The program has already been criticised by the cabinet and MPs. However, ministers Ronald Plasterk (media) and Ab Klink (health) will not ban the show. Plasterk says the media law does not allow him to act before the program is shown.

Klink's spokesperson has said however that the star of the Donor Show is not free to decide who will receive her organ, reprots Expatica News. "Only donors who donate a kidney while living are allowed to designate the recipient. In the case of posthumous donation the kidney will go to whomever has been waiting the longest."

BNN says the programis a serious attempt to highlight the scarcity of donor organs and to honour the memory of the broadcaster’s founder, Bart de Graaff, who died five years ago at the age of 35. De Graaff suffered from kidney disease all his life, which stunted his growth and eventually killed him, despite a kidney transplant in 1997."

Previously: - Dutch TV show has viewers voting on who should get donor organ

Dutch TV show has viewers voting by SMS on who should get donor organ

BNN, a public-service broadcasting network in the Netherlands, has programmed a reality show on June 1st, whereby a 37-year-old terminal patient with a brain tumor, will chose, live, on TV, which of three contestants in need of a kidney transplant, will get her kidney once she dies.

Viewers will be able to send text messages to the show, giving their choice of who deserves the kidney organ most.

Daily newspaper Algemeen Dagblad reported that this show is creating a huge controversy - including at government level - for making light of organ donations. The show claims they are trying to reflect the harsh reality; that receiving a donor transplant is one big lottery.

[via Fenêtre sur l'Europe (in French)]

Study Finds Cell Phones Could Threaten Radio

A new study from Bridge Ratings looks at the power of cell phones and their usage in relation to radio. FMQB reports.

"According to Bridge's survey of 3506 Americans ages 13 and up, 70 percent of the population now have a cell phone. Phones are becoming increasingly tied into music and information delivery, with 30 percent of those surveyed interested in receiving radio broadcasts via their phones.

While text messaging is far and away the most popular cell phone service, music downloading came in third with 37 percent of those surveyed interested. Information on traffic, news and sports scores were also popular choices.

... The gap between radio and cell phone preference is shrinking, when compared to Bridge's last study on the same topic, from 2005.

The complete results of "The Mobile Phone Consumer: Implications For Terrestrial Radio" can be found here.

Finland soap opera gives viewers power over plot

A new television show that debuted over the Christmas holiday, Sydän Kierroksella, is turning Finnish viewers into soap opera scriptwriters -- through the power of text messaging. Reuters reports.

"More than 500 viewers took part in the show through text messages when it was aired for the first time this week.

Each episode is made up of 10 to 14 sequences since the plot must adjust according to viewer opinions. The crew has filmed some 80 scenes and recorded hundreds of separate spoken lines, which Tuomola says offer limitless number of potential story lines".

Related links: - BT allows TV viewers to choose outcome of new show

BT 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, according to NMA and texted comments will also be displayed on screen.

Text messaging by viewers to determine the plot of a TV show have ben attempted before:

-- «InYrShoes» (2003) - A soap opera in the UK called «InYrShoes» will not be decided by scriptwriters but by viewers using text messages...Fans will be able to keep up with the soap's development through traditional method, via text-message updates or through photostrip multimedia messages sent direct to their mobiles. In typical soap style, the end of each episode features a cliffhanger or dilemma - and that's where the audience takes control.

-- (2005) - Fans can 'text' outcome of TV storyline - 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.

Tool Allows Radio Station Disc Jockeys/Listeners To Interact with SMS

Feedtext Inc. has announced the availability of a new and innovative Web-based technology called “ SMSJock” that leverages on the power of the mobile phone for a better interaction and communication between radio station disc jockeys (DJs) and their listeners.

Imagine millions of mobile-totting listeners sending their requests via text messaging directly to radio DJs. Now imagine listeners receiving broadcasted text messages from radio DJs.

SMSJock is a free, web-based application that will enable radio stations to receive text messages from listeners. It is a tool for broadcasting text messages (i.e. news, events) to listeners wherever they are. This will simply allow listeners to directly communicate with their favorite radio stations via text messaging, and vice versa. [Press Release]

‘Talk to America’ Commemorates World Refugee Day

Tomorrow, June 20th, is World Refugee Day, established by the UN as a day to recognize and celebrate the contribution of refugees throughout the world.

Talk to America, Voice of America's daily international call-in talk show, which airs live Monday through Friday at 10:00 a.m. (EDT) is a 60-minute program that reaches millions of listeners around the globe.

Listeners are having to call in or send text messages in tomorrow's show on World Refugee Day.

CBS Radio, Vibes in text messaging deal

Reuters reports that CBS Radio will announce a deal today to offer text messaging to listeners, a new service that it said will help stations and their advertisers reach and interact with consumers.

--- "Under the deal, listeners of 41 CBS Radio stations, including 25 in New York and Los Angeles, can participate in promotions and contests from anywhere via text messaging without getting shut out by busy signals.

Vibes said the deal gives stations the ability to create customized promotions and enhanced advertising opportunities."

Rock Radio's New Buzzwords: 'Texting Touch'

Cell phone text messaging or 'texting touch' could become a key element for modern rock and active rock stations to reach out and touch that hard-to-reach 18-29 demo, according to newly released findings from Jacobs Media’s Technology Web Poll II, reports Billboard Radio Monitor.

"When asked what text messages from radio stations would be of most interest, contests and concert information topped the list, followed by traffic information.

“This is the easiest type of information for stations to provide – and it turns out to be the most valuable to stations fans,” says Jacobs Media president Fred Jacobs.

Of least interest to respondents were radio station text messages regarding artist/song title information, stations appearances and advertiser information".

Top Chef's special: text messages

Viewers can receive SMS text messages from reality-show characters throughout the season of Top Chef, a new cooking competition that airs on the cable network, reports. TV.com.

Top Chef follows 12 hopeful chefs as they compete in San Francisco for $100,000 in seed money to start their own restaurant. Winners will also be featured in Food & Wine magazine, appear at the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen in June 2006, and most importantly, earn the prestigious title of "Top Chef."

Top Chef premieres Wednesday, March 8, at 11:00 p.m.

Interesting:

-- Britain's Reality TV Craze Fuels Text Message Voting The reality TV craze sweeping the UK has reached the mobile industry, according to M:Metrics' latest figures. The measurement firm's January Benchmark Survey found that 21.8% of British mobile subscribers (8.9 million) voted in a TV or radio poll in a month during the quarter ended January 2006, compared with 12.1% of German (5 million) and 7% of US (12.3 million), mobile subscribers.

Saudi telecom stops text vote for Arab Star Academy

A cell phone operator in Saudi Arabia has cut off text message voting for TV show Star Academy because of a religious fatwa, reports CBC.

The show brings together 16 young Arabs in a shared house to attend sports, singing, music and dance classes. Religious scholars have condemned the show as "culturally inappropriate." That led to the ban on text message voting by Saudi cell phone operator Mobily this week. Saudi Telecommunications Co., the largest mobile firm in the conservative kingdom, had already blocked voting.

"The decision was taken last night because of a fatwa (religious decree) issued last year, since the program is culturally inappropriate," Mobily spokesman Humoud Alghodaini said. "It shows men and women living in one house, sometimes semi-naked and in inappropriate situations," he added.

"We will definitely lose money, but how much, I don't know," Alghodaini said. "If we don't (stop messaging) it would backfire on us and affect our brand."

Some music fans say they managed in the past to vote for show contestants on the internet, bypassing the government server which controls access.

‘Cheater Meter'

TMB Belgium, an MTV channel, have created a new format sure to generate high amounts of SMS traffic. Called ‘Cheater Meter', the station will encourage viewers to send in details on their partner by text message. After analyzing the information, "cheat score" results will scroll by live on their television set.

According to the Press Release, ‘Cheater Meter' calculates the percentage chance of people to cheat on their partner. An SMS message from participants containing a name and his or her residence as input creates the cheat percentage and some additional information about the ‘cheater'. The message is shown live on TV and sent to participant's mobile phone as well.

[via Smart Mobs]

PunchMuch, a cross between Canadian Idol and a jukebox

CHUM Television, Canada's largest owner of specialty music stations, is launching PunchMuch, a fully automated all-request music video station, to fill the void left by MTV network in Canada.

PunchMuch is a cross between Canadian Idol and a jukebox, allowing viewers to request videos by sending SMS on their cellphones to the station.

PunchMuch's screen will display several different feature running at once. The videos will dominate the screen, but there will also be the ticker with video titles and the audience will also be able to give "shout out" text-messages to their friends.

With its enriched screen, a ticker list will scroll with the names of videos that viewers can request, while other videos play. The list of songs will be updated based on what is being requested. Viewers who want to request a song, can do so by text-messaging the network on their cellphone. Each request is considered a premium text message and will cost roughly 50 cents.

The videos aired are determined by the amount of votes they get.

(via Globe & Mail < unmediated)

Scott Peterson trial verdict to be sent out by SMS

In a novel twist on how Television gets the message, those addicted to the Scott Peterson trial, can sign up on Court TV for instant text messages with the jury's verdict, reports the Contras Times.

"The crime and punishment cable channel is allowing its Web site users to sign up for free wireless text messages that will announce both when the jury has come back from deliberations and the verdict. The second will simply contain the words "guilty" or "not guilty."

Since the service was offered Oct. 29, 80,000 people have signed up to get the free verdict text message sent to their cell phones.
Juice Wireless, which is partnering with Court TV on the text alert offer, has estimated 100,000 people eventually will sign up for the deal."

Peterson is accused of murdering his pregnant wife, Laci, and their unborn son in December 2002. If convicted, Peterson could face the death penalty.

Virgin Radio goes mobile dating

Virgin Radio has appointed g8wave, a UK mobile marketing entertainment company, to provide a mobile fixed-line and web-based dating service, reports Netimperative.

The dating service is being supported through on-air and on-line promotion at Virgin Radio and virginradio.co.uk. Users joining up to the new service can do so either by phone, on line or via SMS. Subscribers receive matches based on their dating preferences and messages from other members.

Turn On, Tune In, Text

Carlo Longino for TheFeature.com reports on an article in The Guardian, on UK listeners sending huge amounts of SMS to radio stations. The challenge stations now face is how to utilize the texts.

Excerpts from The Guardian article (you must now register to access - but stories are still free)

"It's instant feedback," says Radio 1 DJ Scott Mills. "Text really steers the whole direction of the show. People don't necessarily like to ring the station, and email is quite slow - with text messages, anyone can do it and you could be anywhere.

One of the catalysts for change has been the shifting demographic of texters. The medium is slowly moving from the realm of teenage texters into the more lucrative adult market. That is something radio executives hope they can harness.

Radio 1's Ten-Hour Takeover was a prime example of the remarkable progress that radio's relationship with text messaging has made in the past few years.. On Easter Monday, the station's listeners were invited to send in their song requests by text, with the day's playlist built out of their messages. There was a huge diversity of artists requested and 150,000 were messages sent in during the day.

Related articles on text messaging and radio stations

-- Texting and Pirate Radio - Pirate radio stations are using texting to maintain tight feedback loops with listeners

-- Name that tune - Music recognition technology lets listeners get more information about the songs they like on radio stations.

-- Radio SMS Text Clubs - Chrysalis Radio UK claims that it has been attracting over 10,000 new subscribers to its popular mobile databases each month...

-- Radio 4 is to broadcast a ghost story that reacts to listeners voting by text message - BBC's Radio 4 broadcasted a ghost story that reacts to listeners voting by text message.

Showtime launches SMS text service for ordering Home Cinema pay-per-view movies

Television uses text messaging in more ways than one, and not just for viewer voting.

Leading digital pay-television network Showtime for the Middle East, has just launched Home Cinema Text, an SMS text service that enables subscribers to order their personal selection of pay-per-view movies via text messaging, according to AME info.

On a related note, multicultural broadcaster SBS Television Australia has just started a SMS service to remind viewers when their favourite programs are about to go to air. Each program has a four-digit SMS alert code which are available on the TV schedule page. The reminder wil be sent an hour before the show is screened. cf SBS launches SMS viewer service.

SBS launches SMS viewer service

Multicultural broadcaster SBS Television has started a SMS service to remind viewers when their favourite programs are about to go to air, a media release says, reports The Age.

Each program has a four-digit SMS alert code which are available on the TV schedule page. The reminder wil be sent an hour before the show is screened.

Refunds for Australian Idol voters

In what sounds like good business sense, refunds will be given to Australian Idol fans who cast their votes by text message after a decision was made to close the voting. One of the participant's withdrew from the contest on doctor's orders, according to TheAge.com

The West Australian singer, Cosima De Vito, had nodules on her throat which were affecting her performances.

Anyone wanting a refund must send a copy of their phone or mobile bill to a Freepost address in Sydney. The address will be promoted on-air by the Ten network.

Flipside TV

A new TV format in the UK takes the distinctly unorthodox approach of trying to persuade viewers to switch to different channels, according to The Guardian.

"The programme, Flipside TV, will feature an hour of chat and comment about TV between a presenter, three guests and viewers who can join in by phoning and texting the show.

"Two contributors will roam around channels and the other will focus entirely on one big programme each night. We will also have graphics rolling across the screen telling you what's on now on different channels and what's coming up later, so people can plan their evening's viewing," he said.

"It's part radio talk show, with people encouraged to phone in to talk about telly or rant about telly, and it's part fanzine," he added.

Flipside TV began broadcasting on Nation277 last night and will be broadcast each weekday evening from 7pm, with a repeat at 9.30pm".

Indian TV programme helps prevent crime with new SMS iniative

Sony Entertainment Television in association with the Indian police, has launched a new interactive text messaging service on its reality show Crime Patrol. Citizens can now report crime by sending an SMS to short code 2525 or by calling the Mumbai Police Commissioner on a special helpline, according to Indian Television via SMS: Business Gets the Message.

SMS campaign will promote “The Next Jo Millionaire: An International Affair.”

Following today's post on Coca-Cola launching the first cross-carrier SMS campaign in the US, here comes another one (both campaigns are thanks to Mobile application company Mobliss). Fox Broadcasting will be offering premium SMS and downloadable services called "Joe 2 Go" that promote its new TV show “The Next Jo Millionaire: An International Affair” from any of the major US wireless providers, according to VCRNews

"Depending on carriers and handsets, viewers can receive exclusive photos of the new Joe Millionaire, the girls vying for his heart and the Italian villa where the show takes place; behind-the scenes information not seen on the program; audio tones; graphics such as country flags personalized with the girls' faces; and polls to vote for favorite contestants.

Verizon Wireless, AT&T Wireless, Cingular Wireless, Sprint PCS, Nextel Communications Inc. and T-Mobile USA are all participating in the Joe 2 Go promotions".

Telenor Mobile Interactive offers premium text messaging

Telenor Mobile Interactive USA is a pioneer of premium text messaging in America. In July 2003, they were the first in the US to launch premium text messaging services with ABC TV's All My Children soap opera, and continue to build their services in partnership with the leading us media companies.

Though Fox's American Idol was the first TV show to offer viewers SMS voting, according to Grace Alfredo, spokesperson for Telenor,  American Idol viewers only paid the usual SMS fee, not a premium rate.

For All My Children, viewers paid more; $.50 each text vote plus the carrier fee. The rate split three ways among:

- Media co: providing promotion and marketing
- Carriers: providing connectivity, subscriber base and billing capabilities
- Service companies: Providing an application platform and tools for facilitating a campaign.

Visit their website to find out how to generate excitement, ratings, loyalty and revenue.

Telenor Mobile Interactive and Telemundo Introduce Premium Text Messaging to Viewers (per a company press release).

Telenor will be introducing premium wireless text message interaction to viewers of The Roof, a popular live music program on Telemundo's mun2, a cable TV channel geared towards U.S. Latino viewers ages 18 to 24.

The Roof, a daily two-hour, high-energy program that combines live performances, music industry news and interviews featuring the hottest recording artists. Fans of The Roof can discuss their favorite bands, comment on the latest trends or vote for the top song of the day via premium text messaging right from their wireless phones. The hosts of the show will instantly respond to the comments and messages, which will be displayed on the television screen.

Reality TV Rolls out "Biggest Yet" SMS Promo

Universal Domestic Television is jumping on the text messaging bandwagon with the launch of what it's calling the largest yet cross-carrier short messaging promotion in the U.S., for its syndicated reality dating show, "The 5th Wheel, according to Internet News.

"Beginning with the show's October 16 telecast and continuing for four weeks, viewers with SMS-enabled phones will be able to enter a contest by sending a text message to a five-digit code.

A series of promotional spots during the show will prompt viewers to opt-in to the promotion. Participants will receive reminders about the show and can play for prizes, including a Porsche Boxster.

The contest differs from the SMS promotion launched for American Idol earlier this year because that show, which according to its producers garnered over 8 million text messages, was sponsored by just one carrier."

Voted sexiest soap actor by SMS

Demonstrating the many uses of SMS, US network channel ABC employed the messaging service to have fans vote forward the sexiest male actor of soap opera 'All my Children', reports Infosync World.

"ABC Daytime, which broadcasts the show, and Telenor Mobile Interactive USA partnered to allow fans to vote through cross-carrier text messaging to choose the winning contestant. Combined with online voting, the contest received over 2,5 million votes.

Telenor Mobile Interactive's findings showed that All My Children fans from California cast the most text message votes, accounting for 16 percent of the vote".

College Football radio-broadcasted over Cell Phones

Wired writes about a new company called Celecast, offering a new service which will "broadcast" college football games over cell phones.

"The idea for the service, which launched this fall, is simple. Subscribers pay for access to the company's array of games -- with plans ranging from $10 for one week's games to $90 for the entire season. After signing up, the subscriber calls Celecast's phone number from their cell phone and picks the game they want to hear. The broadcast from the school's radio-rights holder is routed to the phone, and suddenly, a fan can keep tabs on Michigan or Kentucky from anywhere in the country. "

So far, more than 90 colleges have signed up with Celecast. Each school gets a share of the revenue from the subscriptions.

Texting and Pirate Radio

Pit Schultz, one of the founders of has posted an article from the Sunday Times about the way pirate radio stations are using texting to maintain tight feedback loops with listeners. [Via Freegorifero via Smart Mobs]

«InYrShoes»

A new soap opera in UK called «InYrShoes» will not be decided by scriptwriters but by viewers using text messages...Fans will be able to keep up with the soap's development through traditional method, via text-message updates or through photostrip multimedia messages sent direct to their mobiles. In typical soap style, the end of each episode features a cliffhanger or dilemma - and that's where the audience takes control, according to The Guardian via Moco News.