'American Idol' Performances Available Exclusively on the iTunes Store

'American Idol' Performances Available Exclusively on the iTunes Store

Music & Video Performances Available the Next Day

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Fox Broadcasting Company, Fox Interactive Media, 19 Entertainment, FremantleMedia and Apple(R), for the first time, have partnered to bring music fans all of the contestant performances from Season Seven of television's most popular show exclusively on the iTunes(R) Store (http://www.itunes.com/). Kicking off with the "American Idol" Top 24 semifinalists this week, customers can purchase music performances for 99 cents per song, and viewers will be able to purchase the full video of Top 12 finalist performances for $1.99, starting March 11. In addition, beginning today, fans can pre-order performances of their favorite contestants from the iTunes Store, which will be automatically downloaded the day after the show airs.

"We have some truly outstanding talent this year, and by working with Apple and iTunes, we're giving viewers another great way to enjoy America's brightest new stars from 'Idol,'" said Simon Fuller, creator of "American Idol" and Founder of 19 Entertainment. "I'm sure there will be many memorable performances that viewers will want to relive from this 2008 season."

"We've created a special section on the iTunes Store for 'Idol' fans with an incredible array of music and video performances from television's most popular show," said Eddy Cue, Apple's vice president of iTunes. "We think 'American Idol' viewers are going to love the ability to purchase and download 'Idol' performances from iTunes."

iTunes will also provide exclusive direct links from the free streaming performance videos on americanidol.com (http://www.americanidol.com/), the official website of the show and home to MyIdol, the Internet's largest "American Idol" fan site. Fans will be able to simply click through to iTunes if they want to purchase their favorite performances to own and enjoy on their iPod(R), iPhone(TM) or Apple TV(R).

The iTunes Store is the world's most popular online music store with over four billion songs sold, and has the world's largest catalog with over six million songs. With Apple's legendary ease of use, pioneering features such as new iTunes Movie Rentals, integrated podcasting support, iMix playlist sharing, the ability to turn previously purchased tracks into complete albums at a reduced price, and seamless integration with iPod and iPhone, the iTunes Store is the best way for Mac(R) and PC users to legally discover, purchase and download music and video online.

Pricing & Availability

iTunes 7.6 for Mac and Windows includes the iTunes Store and is available as a free download from http://www.itunes.com/. Purchase and download of songs and videos from the iTunes Store requires a valid credit card from a financial institution in the country of purchase. American Idol music and video content is available in the US and Canada only. Music performances are 99 cents (US) and video performances are $1.99 (US) per episode and can be viewed on a Mac or PC, iPod nano with video, iPod classic, fifth generation iPod, iPod touch, iPhone or on a widescreen TV with Apple TV.

AMERICAN IDOL is created and executive-produced by Simon Fuller, founder and CEO of 19 Entertainment; 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.

Fox Broadcasting Company (FOX) is a unit of News Corporation. FOX finished the 2006-2007 season as the No. 1 network for the third consecutive year among Adult 18-49 viewers, while continuing to dominate all network competition in the more targeted Adults 18-34 and Teen demographics. FOX airs 15 hours of primetime programming per week as well as late night entertainment programming, major sports and Sunday morning news.

A division of News Corporation (NYSE:NWS)(NYSE:NWS.A), Fox Interactive Media (FIM) is a portfolio of leading social networking, entertainment, sports and information sites that offer a platform and tools for consumers to express themselves, communicate with each other, and engage with media. The company's worldwide network includes such category leaders as MySpace, Photobucket, IGN, FOXSports.com, RottenTomatoes, AskMen, Flektor and more that together comprise one of the largest audiences on the Web.

FremantleMedia Enterprises is the brand extension arm of FremantleMedia, offering a one-stop-shop for all Licensing, Distribution and Home Entertainment. It is a division of FremantleMedia, one of the largest international creators and producers of entertainment brands in the world with leading prime time drama, serial drama, entertainment and factual entertainment programming in over 40 countries worldwide. FremantleMedia is a subsidiary of RTL Group, Europe's largest television and radio broadcast company, which is 90% owned by Bertelsmann AG, an integrated media and entertainment company that commands leading positions in the world's media markets. For further information, visit http://www.fremantlemedia.com/.

FremantleMedia North America (FMNA) is the U.S. production division of global media giant FremantleMedia. Based in Burbank, California, FMNA produces entertaining and innovative television programs for network, cable and syndicated platforms, including the Emmy-nominated musical/reality phenomenon "American Idol" (FOX), "American Idol Rewind" (syndicated), "American Idol Extra" (Fox Reality Channel), "America's Got Talent" (NBC), "Farmer Wants A Wife" (The CW), "Can You Duet" (CMT), "The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency" (Oxygen), "Property Ladder" (TLC), "Family Feud" (syndicated), "Temptation" (syndicated), "Million Dollar Password" (CBS), and the longest-running game show in television history, "The Price Is Right" (CBS).

Simon Fuller's 19 Entertainment (of CKX, Inc., a publicly traded company listed on the NASDAQ National Market(R) under the ticker symbol "CKXE") is recognized as a leading creator, provider and promoter of globally successful music based entertainment, or "entertainment brands." The company has attracted a unique collection of expertise in people who work together to integrate and leverage activity across television, film, touring, merchandising, music publishing, recording, artist / writer and producer management, sponsorship and promotion. Simon Fuller is the most successful British music manager of all time having sold over 116 million CDs in North America alone, and is known as the creator of "American Idol", the most valuable TV format in the world with an estimated value in excess of $2.5 billion.

Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning computers, OS X operating system and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital media revolution with its iPod portable music and video players and iTunes online store, and has entered the mobile phone market with its revolutionary iPhone.

(C) 2008 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, Mac, Mac OS, Macintosh, iTunes, iPod, iPhone and Apple TV are trademarks of Apple. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact: hoover1@apple.com

Source: Apple

CONTACT: Tom Neumayr of Apple, +1-408-974-1972, tneumayr@apple.com; or
Elissa Johansmeier of Fox, +1-212-556-2567, elissa.johansmeier@fox.com

Web site:

http://www.apple.com/
http://www.itunes.com/
http://www.americanidol.com/
http://www.fremantlemedia.com/

NOTE TO EDITORS: For additional information visit Apple's PR website (www.apple.com/pr/), or call Apple's Media Helpline at (408) 974-2042

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