AMERICA'S GOT TALENT Announces Youtube Auditions

NBC's "America's Got Talent" and its producers have re-partnered with YouTube to allow talented acts from across the country the opportunity to audition online for their shot at stardom and a million-dollar prize, it was announced today by Paul Telegdy, Executive Vice President, Alternative Programming, NBC and Universal Media Studios. Much like season 5 finalist Jackie Evancho, who became a worldwide singing sensation after her online submission led to her competing on the #1 summer series, hopefuls once again can audition online by submitting their auditions via YouTube. Powered by YouTube, beginning May 5 through June 9, acts of all ages can now upload their audition videos via the "America's Got Talent" Audition App, or at www.youtube.com/americasgottalent, or at nbc.com/agt, as well as the "America's Got Talent" Facebook fan page at www.facebook.com/nbcagt. Following the June 9 deadline, producers will select 20 acts for the YouTube community to view and vote for their favorites. The #1 YouTube act with the most votes will automatically gain a place on the YouTube-branded quarterfinal broadcast episode.

This season, "America's Got Talent" has taken the online audition element to the next level, allowing submissions via a new iPhone and Android app, which gives potential acts the opportunity to submit audition videos from their handheld devices. This first-of-its-kind competition show app allows these users to record and upload a video directly to YouTube and submit it as an official "America's Got Talent" audition.

"With a flip of the hand, this process throws a wider net across America," said Telegdy. "You Tube brought us Jackie Evancho for season 5, and with greater accessibility and ease provided by the audition app, there's no telling what amazing talent will surface next."

"We are delighted to work with NBC's digital marketing team and YouTube to put this ground-breaking audition experience directly in the hands of the contestants," said Olivier Delfosse, Vice President Interactive, Mobile and Digital Content for FremantleMedia Enterprises. "Jackie's success is a great testament to the power of social media, and proves that winning ‘America's Got Talent' is within anyone's reach."

The YouTube auditions were especially notable last season when then unknown 10-year-old vocalist Evancho placed first in the inaugural online contest. She went on to advance to the Top 10, where she performed "Pie Jesu" by Andrew Lloyd Webber (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ar0r02FZng), and her YouTube audition has since garnered over 3.7 million views to-date. After the finale, she signed a recording deal with Columbia Records. Her first album, "O Holy Night," debuted at #2 on the Billboard chart and #1 in the U.S. Classical Album Chart, selling over 1.5 million copies in 2010 and making her the top-selling debut artist in the U.S. that year, as well as the youngest female solo artist to have a platinum selling record and debut in the Top 10.

That same season, the YouTube-themed shows hit a three-week high in total viewers to rank as the #1 telecast of the night, averaging 10.5 million persons, and the season finale set a series record with 16.4 million viewers.
For more information, please visit nbc.com/americas-got-talent/, twitter.com/nbcagt and facebook.com/nbcagt.

For contestant embeddable clips and full episodes of "America's Got Talent" please visit NBC.com's official show site: http://www.nbc.com/americas-got-talent/

For artwork and a complete press kit from the show, please visit the NBC Universal Media Village website at http://www.nbcumv.com.

Please follow us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/nbcagt and on Twitter at @nbcagt.

"America's Got Talent" is produced by FremantleMedia North America and Simon Cowell's SYCO Television. Simon Cowell, Cecile Frot-Coutaz ("American Idol"), Jason Raff, Ken Warwick ("American Idol") and Georgie Hurford-Jones ("Britain's Got Talent") are executive producers.

About NBC Entertainment:

NBC Entertainment develops and schedules programming for the network's primetime, late-night, and daytime schedules. NBC's quality programs and balanced lineup have earned the network critical acclaim, numerous awards, and ratings success. The network has earned more Emmy Awards than any network in television history.

NBC's roster of popular scripted series includes such critically acclaimed comedies Emmy winners as "The Office," starring Steve Carell, and "30 Rock," starring Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey. Veteran, award-winning dramas on NBC include the "Law & Order" brand, and "Chuck." Unscripted series for NBC include the hits "The Biggest Loser," "The Celebrity Apprentice," and "America's Got Talent." NBC's late-night story is highlighted by "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon," "Last Call with Carson Daly" and "Saturday Night Live." NBC Daytime's "Days of our Lives" consistently finishes among daytime's top programs in the valuable women 18-34 category. On Saturday mornings, the network broadcasts Qubo on NBC, a three-hour block that features fun, entertaining, and educational programming for kids, including the award-winning, 3-D animated series Veggie Tales. For more information visit www.nbc.com.
About FREMANTLEMEDIA NORTH AMERICA:

FremantleMedia North America (FMNA) is the U.S. production division of global media giant FremantleMedia. Based in Burbank, California, FMNA produces entertaining and innovative programs for network, cable, syndicated and online platforms, including the Emmy-nominated musical/reality phenomenon "American Idol" (FOX), "America's Got Talent" (NBC), "What Chilli Wants" (VH1), "Hole In The Wall" (Cartoon Network), "Jump City: Seattle" (G4), "Let's Make A Deal" (CBS), "Family Feud" (syn), "The Price Is Right" (CBS), and the much-anticipated "The X Factor" (FOX) for Fall 2011.

Syco, with offices in London and Los Angeles, is a global music, television and film production joint venture between Simon Cowell and Sony Music Entertainment. Syco Television owns and produces the BAFTA Award-winning "The X Factor," which has topped the charts around the world. Syco Television is also the owner of the "Got Talent" television format. Versions of both "The X Factor" and "Got Talent" are co-produced by Syco, and are shown in more than 70 countries and have won multiple awards including national television awards and BAFTAs.

Syco is also the record label home for such diverse international recording stars as Leona Lewis and Il Divo. Cowell has worked with artists selling more than 200 million albums and delivering more than 180 No. 1 records. Britain's Got Talent in 2009 launched the global singing career of Susan Boyle. Her debut Syco album sold over 8 million units in six weeks, making it the world's biggest-selling album of 2009 and the fastest-selling album in history, selling a total of 20 million records to date.

FremantleMedia is one of the leading creators and producers of entertainment brands in the world. FremantleMedia is part of the RTL Group, Europe's largest television and radio broadcast company, which is in turn 90 percent owned by Bertelsmann AG, one of the world's major media and entertainment companies. FremantleMedia's worldwide production arm is responsible for many of the world's highest rated prime time entertainment, drama, serial drama and factual entertainment programmes.

FremantleMedia Enterprises is the brand extension arm of FremantleMedia, offering a one-stop-shop for all Licensing, Distribution and Home Entertainment around the world. The FremantleMedia Group (which includes FremantleMedia North America, UFA, talkbackTHAMES, FremantleMedia Australia and Original Productions amongst others) has operations in 22 countries, one of the most comprehensive global networks, creating nearly 10,000 hours of programming a year, rolling out more than 60 formats and managing over 300 individual titles. FremantleMedia has some of the world's most sought after and long running formats in its catalogue, and globally, produces such programmes as: Idols (co-produced with 19 Productions in the US), Hole In The Wall, Got Talent (co-produced with Syco in the UK and the US), The X Factor (co-produced with Syco in the UK), Take Me Out, Family Feud, The Price is Right, Farmer Wants A Wife, Gute Zeiten Schlechte Zeiten, and Neighbours.

 

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