AT&T's Wireless Unit Kicks Off New Season of 'American Idol' With Mobile Clips From Some of the Most Outrageous and Hilarious Auditions

AT&T's Wireless Unit Kicks Off New Season of 'American Idol' With Mobile Clips From Some of the Most Outrageous and Hilarious Auditions

ATLANTA, Jan. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- How will the Official Telecom Sponsor of AMERICAN IDOL, top last season's success of generating more than 64.5 million text messages? For starters, Cingular Wireless, now the new AT&T, is giving IDOL fans access to some of the most outrageous moments from America's Number One show directly from their mobile phones thanks to a renewed agreement with FOX, and the co-producers of the smash hit series, FremantleMedia and 19 TV, Ltd.

The AMERICAN IDOL audition shows have provided lots of water-cooler moments over the years and this season promises to be no exception. For those of you who can't get enough of these entertaining performances from Idol hopefuls, AT&T's wireless unit has made the most entertaining audition video clips available for your viewing pleasure.

"AMERICAN IDOL is the most popular and entertaining television program in the country, and we are excited to be back for another season of fun," said John Burbank, vice president, wireless marketing, AT&T. "We are pleased to make highlights from this season's audition shows available to fans on their wireless phones, so they can relive their favorite moments as often as they like, whenever they like."

For the next three weeks, the Cingular Video library will feature up to 10 new clips of AMERICAN IDOL auditions that didn't make the cut. To access these Bad Audition video clips, consumers simply need to have a 3G phone, such as the SYNC from Samsung or the Samsung Blackjack, and sign up for the $19.99 MEdia MAX Bundle, which includes unlimited Cingular Video.

In addition to the video content, Bad Audition ringtones and Answer Tones(TM) are also available. The Audition Music Tone ringtones are available for $2.49 each. The charge for each Audition Answer Tone purchased is $1.99, in addition to a monthly service charge of $0.99. To download ringtones and Answer Tones, customers should:

* Text AUD to 8008
* Click on reply message to connect to the MEdia Mall
* Select the desired tone
* Follow the onscreen prompt to download their selection

Throughout the season, AT&T's wireless unit will be introducing new AMERICAN IDOL-themed content as well as old favorites such as IDOL Chat, IDOL Trivia, Live IDOL Tones and more. For more information on AMERICAN IDOL mobile happenings, visit http://www.cingular.com/americanidol

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. is a premier communications holding company in the United States and around the world, with operating subsidiaries providing services under the AT&T brand. AT&T is the recognized world leader in providing IP-based communications services to business and the U.S. leader in providing wireless, high speed Internet access, local and long distance voice, and directory publishing and advertising services. As part of its "three screen" integration strategy, AT&T is expanding video entertainment offerings to include such next-generation television services as AT&T U-verse(SM) TV. Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com/ .

About FremantleMedia Licensing Worldwide, Americas:

FremantleMedia Licensing Worldwide, Americas (FLW, Americas) is the licensing arm of FremantleMedia for North and South America. FremantleMedia one of the largest international creators and producers of program brands in the world, with leading prime time drama, serial drama, entertainment and factual entertainment programming in over 40 territories. FLW, Americas exploits FremantleMedia's many strong brands, including the award winning, American Idol, the world's longest running gameshow The Price Is Right, the ever-popular Family Feud, and other classic gameshows, across multiple off- screen platforms including merchandising campaigns, live events, sponsorship, interactive and wireless support, home entertainment and music publishing. FLW, Americas is also responsible for additional business diversification initiatives including Atomic Wedgie, a pioneering wireless channel delivering original made-for-mobile video content on demand.

FLW, Americas is part of FremantleMedia North America (FMNA). FremantleMedia North America (FMNA) is a division of global media giant FremantleMedia, one of the largest international creators and producers of program brands in the world. Based in Burbank, California, FMNA currently produces some of the most innovative and highest-rated entertainment on television, including Emmy-nominated musical/reality phenomenon "American Idol" for Fox, "America's Got Talent" for NBC, "American Inventor" for ABC, "The Janet Dickinson Modeling Agency" for Oxygen, "Property Ladder" for TLC, the daily syndicated "Family Feud," and the longest-running game show in television history, "The Price Is Right" for CBS.

FremantleMedia is the production arm of the RTL Group, Europe's largest television and radio broadcast company. With interests in 34 television channels and 30 radio stations in 11 countries, RTL Group is a division of leading integrated media and entertainment company, Bertelsmann AG.

About American Idol:

Fourteen-time Emmy-nominated AMERICAN IDOL is created and executive- produced by Simon Fuller, founder of 19 Entertainment, Ltd.; and executive- produced by Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO, FremantleMedia North America, Inc.; Nigel Lythgoe, President, 19 Television; and Ken Warwick, Executive Producer, FremantleMedia North America, Inc.

About 19 Entertainment:

19 Entertainment, Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of CKX, Inc. (NASDAQ: CKXE), was founded by Simon Fuller 21 years ago and acquired by CKX in March 2005. The company is recognized as a leading creator, provider and promoter of globally successful, music-based entertainment, or "Entertainment Brands."

Simon Fuller, who serves as Chief Executive Officer of 19 Entertainment, is the creator of AMERICAN IDOL in the United States, "Pop Idol" in the UK, as well as versions of the IDOL format in more than 30 countries around the world. Fuller is also the co-creator of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE, which aired in the U.S. on FOX during summer 2005 and was the top-rated television show in its time slot.

Fuller has made music history in the UK and the U.S.A., producing a stream of No. 1 hits and managing multi-platinum-selling acts. Fuller recently became the world's most successful manager - breaking a record set by the Beatles' manager Brian Epstein in the 1960s - when three of his artists occupied the No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 positions on the U.S. single chart as well as the No. 1 position on the album chart.

19 Entertainment has been involved in the creation of 109 No. 1 singles and 87 No. 1 albums in the UK alone, with an impressive tally of 296 Top-40 albums and 465 Top-40 singles.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: AT&T Inc.

CONTACT: Kelleigh Scott Beal of AT&T, +1-404-236-6321, or
kelleigh.scott@cingular.com

Web site: http://www.att.com/
http://www.cingular.com/americanidol

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