AMERICA'S GOT TALENT Announces YouTube Online Auditions

NBC's AMERICA'S GOT TALENT and its producers have again collaborated with YouTube, and for the first time, show sponsor Snapple, to allow talented acts from across the country the opportunity to audition online for their shot at stardom and a million-dollar prize. The online auditions will be voted upon by the viewers in the YouTube Snapple episodes airing in August on NBC, and the top 20 acts will compete at their shot at stardom for sought-after slots in the semi-final round of the competition show. Those selected to enter the semi-finals will then face the AGT judges panel - - - new judge Howard Stern, who joins fellow judges Howie Mandel and Sharon Osbourne.

Following the June 1 deadline, producers will select 20 acts for the YouTube community to view and vote for their favorites. The #1 YouTube act with the most qualifying votes will gain a place on the YouTube Snapple quarterfinal performance episode. 11 other acts found on YouTube will also perform on the special live show and will be competing for slots in the semi-finals.

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 videos via the YouTube/Snapple audition program.

Now through June 1, United States-based 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 www.nbc.com/agt or the Facebook fan page at www.facebook.com/nbcagt. All submissions are subject to the terms and conditions of the competition.

"America's Got Talent" will premiere with two two-hour episodes on Monday, May 14 (8-10 p.m. ET) and Tuesday, May 15 (8-10 p.m. ET). The series then resumes in its regular day and time on Monday, May 21 (8-9 p.m. ET) and on Tuesday, May 22 (9-10 p.m. ET).

In addition, once again, "America's Got Talent," YouTube and Snapple have 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 app allows these users to record and upload a video directly to YouTube and submit it as an official "America's Got Talent" audition.

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

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. NBC has earned more Emmy Awards than any network in television history. NBC's roster of popular scripted series includes such critically acclaimed and Emmy Award-winning comedies as "The Office" and "30 Rock," the latter starring Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey. NBC's drama slate includes the veteran, award-winning series "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" and the popular first-year musical "Smash." Unscripted series for NBC include the vocal competition hit "The Voice" as well as "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 ranks among daytime's top programs in the valuable women 18-34 category. The five-time, Emmy Award-winning NBC.com streams full episodes and provides original content for NBC entertainment shows online and through apps for mobile and tablet devices. 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."

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), "The X Factor" (FOX), "America's Got Talent" (NBC), "Take Me Out" (FOX), "Family Feud" (syndicated), "The Price Is Right" (CBS), "Let's Make A Deal" (CBS), "Hole In The Wall" (Cartoon Network), "Total Blackout" (Syfy) and the first scripted series "The Wedding Band" (TBS premieres 2012).

About SYCO:

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. Local versions of The X Factor format air in over 30 countries and The X Factor (USA) is broadcast in 162 countries. Artists launched through The X Factor series globally have sold over 100 million records achieving more than 110 No 1's; 270 Top 10 and 510 Top 50 records. Local versions of the Got Talent format air in more than 40 countries and America's Got Talent is broadcast in 125 countries. 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 #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 in the last 2 years Susan remains one of the world's biggest selling artists.

About FremantleMedia Enterprises & FremantleMedia:

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.

About YouTube:

YouTube is the world's largest online video community, allowing millions of people to discover, watch, and share original videos. YouTube provides a forum for people to connect, inform, and inspire others across the globe and acts as a distribution platform for original-content creators and advertisers large and small. YouTube, LLC, is based in San Bruno, California, and is a subsidiary of Google Inc.

About Snapple:

Snapple, a brand of Dr Pepper Snapple Group (NYSE: DPS), is a leader in great-tasting premium beverages. Founded in 1972 by three childhood friends, Snapple got its start in Greenwich Village, New York, and is now available throughout the United States and numerous countries worldwide. Snapple prides itself on developing, producing and marketing a wide variety of premium beverages, including ready-to-drink iced teas, juice drinks, 100% juices and water. Known for its down-to-earth approach to marketing, Snapple continues to delight fans across the world. DPS is a leading producer of flavored soft drinks, marketing Snapple and 50-plus other brands across North America and the Caribbean. For more information on Snapple, visit www.snapple.com 

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