American Idol(R) Finalists Coming to Apple App Store

American Idol(R) Finalists Coming to Apple App Store

First-Ever American Idol Application Developed By FremantleMedia Enterprises and Zumobi Offers Fans Exclusive Behind-the-Scenes Contestant Videos and News Updates

SEATTLE, March 10 /PRNewswire/ -- FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) and Zumobi, today introduced the first-ever official American Idol(R) application for Apple's revolutionary iPhone and iPod touch. "American Idol Season 8 Exclusive" follows this season's American Idol Top 13 finalists in their quest to be named the next American Idol and brings fans exclusive multimedia content and news updates.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090310/LA81261)

Only days after the Top 13 finalists were announced live on FOX, the "American Idol Season 8 Exclusive" application provides fans with in-depth contestant bios, pictures, news and exclusive video from behind-the-scenes of the on-air show. In total, 78 original videos of the remaining contestants will be released weekly between now and the Finale, giving fans the opportunity to get know their favorite contestants better.

"We are excited to partner with 19 Entertainment and FOX to create a truly unique American Idol experience in the palm of your hand," said David Luner, senior vice president, Interactive & Consumer Products, FremantleMedia Enterprises, North America. "The new application puts iPhone and iPod touch users in the driver's seat and allows them to engage with the show anytime they want."

"American Idol Season 8 Exclusive" also features daily news updates on the Top 13 contestants in the "Buzz" and "Bio" sections, and the "My Rankings" feature allows users to test their talent-picking power by predicting, customizing, and tracking the order of who stays and who gets voted off each week. As users track their favorite contestants' progress, they are also one click away from the American Idol iTunes page where they can download music from recent performances.

"American Idol is one of the premiere entertainment brands around the world, with a television franchise that is unrivaled," said Ken Willner, CEO of Zumobi. "Zumobi is thrilled to partner with FremantleMedia Enterprises, 19 Entertainment and FOX on the development of this exclusive app for iPhone and iPod touch and we're proud to make it available to millions of Idol fans through The Zumobi Network."

"American Idol Season 8 Exclusive" is available for $1.99 from Apple's App Store on iPhone and iPod touch or at http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=306532181&mt =8. The Zumobi Network is a leader in designing, developing, distributing, and marketing sponsorable and full-branded applications for iPhones and iPod touch.

American Idol airs Tuesdays (8:00 - 10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) and Wednesdays (9:00 -10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) on FOX. For more information about the application, please visit the American Idol web site, www.americanidol.com

ABOUT AMERICAN IDOL

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.; and Ken Warwick, Executive Producer, FremantleMedia North America, Inc.

ABOUT 19 ENTERTAINMENT LTD

Simon Fuller's 19 Entertainment Ltd. is recognized as a lead creator, provider and promoter of globally successful entertainment and music brands of today. The company has attracted a unique team of exceptionally creative executives, who work together to integrate and leverage activity across television, sports, film, touring, merchandising, music publishing, recording and artist management.

19 Founder/CEO Simon Fuller has developed and managed some of the biggest entertainment properties of our time, with credits that include the creation of TV phenomenon AMERICAN IDOL and SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE, and the HBO series "Little Britain USA." 19's unique talent includes legendary musical icon Annie Lennox, country music sensation Carrie Underwood, the pop group sensation Spice Girls, and IDOL alumni Chris Daughtry, David Cook, supermodel Claudia Schiffer and soccer icon David Beckham.

ABOUT CKX, INC.

CKX, Inc. is engaged in the ownership, development and commercial utilization of entertainment content. To date, the Company has focused on acquiring globally recognized entertainment content and related assets, including the rights to the name, image and likeness of Elvis Presley, the operations of Graceland, the rights to the name, image and likeness of Muhammad Ali and proprietary rights to the IDOLS television brand, including the American Idol series in the United States and local adaptations of the IDOLS television show format which, collectively, air in over 100 countries around the world. On June 1, 2007 CKX entered into a merger agreement with 19X, Inc., a private company owned and controlled by Mr. Sillerman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CKX, and Simon R. Fuller, a director of CKX and the Chief Executive Officer of 19 Entertainment Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CKX, that will result in the sale of CKX to 19X. For more information about CKX, Inc., visit its corporate website at www.ckx.com.

ABOUT FOX BROADCASTING COMPANY

Fox Broadcasting Company (FOX) is a unit of News Corporation. FOX finished the 2007-2008 season as the No. 1 network for the fourth consecutive year among Adult 18-49 viewers, while continuing to dominate all network competition in the more targeted Adults 18-34 and Teen demographics. Additionally, FOX won the seasonal crown among all viewers for the first time in the network's 21-year history. FOX airs 15 hours of primetime programming a week as well as late-night entertainment programming, major sports and Sunday morning news.

ABOUT FOX DIGITAL MEDIA

A division of the Fox Entertainment Group, Fox Digital Media (FDM) manages digital media strategy for all Fox content. In the past year, the group negotiated the groundbreaking digital revenue sharing agreement with Fox affiliates and also led the FOX on Demand effort, which brought prime time series to the Internet on an ad supported basis through MySpace.com and the MyFoxLocal web sites. Additionally, the group developed VOD and Electronic sell-through deals for film and television product, including deals with iTunes, Amazon, Bittorrent, AOL, MSN, MovieLink and CinemaNow.

ABOUT FREMANTLEMEDIA ENTERPRISES & FREMANTLEMEDIA

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/.

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 television programs for network, cable and syndicated platforms, including the Emmy-nominated musical/reality phenomenon AMERICAN IDOL (FOX), American Idol Rewind (syndicated), America's Got Talent (NBC), OSBOURNES: RELOADED (FOX), Celebrity Family Feud (NBC), HOLE IN THE WALL (FOX), Farmer Wants A Wife (The CW), The Phone (MTV), Rock The Cradle (MTV), Can You Duet (CMT), The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency (Oxygen), Match Game (TBS), Family Feud (syndicated), Million Dollar Password (CBS), and the longest-running game show in television history, The Price Is Right (CBS).

ABOUT ZUMOBI

Zumobi is a leading mobile media company which designs, develops, and distributes branded applications for next generation smartphones. Zumobi's portfolio of mobile applications comprises The Zumobi Network, which provides innovative and comprehensive solutions for brands, media properties, and consumers to connect and engage. For more information, please visit www.Zumobi.com.

   For More Information Please Contact:   Nyla Saleh   Edelman, for FME   212-704-8101   Nyla.Saleh@edelman.com    Valerie Christopherson   Global Results PR, for Zumobi   949-608-0276   Zumobi@globalresultspr.com  

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090310/LA81261
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN4
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

Source: Zumobi

CONTACT: Nyla Saleh of Edelman, +1-212-704-8101, Nyla.Saleh@edelman.com;
or Valerie Christopherson of Global Results PR, +1-949-608-0276,
Zumobi@globalresultspr.com, both for Zumobi

Web Site: http://www.zumobi.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment