Coca-Cola, AT&T Return as AMERICAN IDOL Sponsors

Fox Broadcasting Company (FOX); 19 Entertainment Ltd., a division of CKX, Inc.; and FremantleMedia North America today announced that Ford Motor Company, Coca-Cola and AT&T will return as official sponsors for the 10th season of AMERICAN IDOL.

Hosted by Ryan Seacrest with judges Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler, television's No. 1 show kicks off its milestone 10th season with a two-night premiere event beginning tonight, Wednesday, Jan. 19 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT), and continuing tomorrow night, Thursday, Jan. 20 (8:00-9:01 PM ET/PT), on FOX.

Season 10 of AMERICAN IDOL marks the return of Ford as the official automotive sponsor of the show. Ford has been a leading partner of AMERICAN IDOL since the show's debut in 2002, and will continue to have a strong presence throughout the upcoming season. Ford vehicles and the AMERICAN IDOL finalists will again be featured each week in exclusive Ford music videos. This content, along with candid "making of" segments featuring the contestants, will also be available on www.americanidol.com. In addition, Ford will launch a truly unique consumer promotion that will offer fans an exclusive chance to win a once-in-a-lifetime AMERICAN IDOL experience. More details will be announced shortly.

AMERICAN IDOL will serve as a key platform to integrate a variety of Ford vehicles, including the all-new 2012 Ford Focus. Ford will also award the AMERICAN IDOL winner, as well as the runner-up, a brand-new Ford vehicle.

For the special 10th season of AMERICAN IDOL, Coca-Cola is offering programs that bring families together to enjoy moments of happiness and fun. AMERICAN IDOL is the kickoff platform for the new Coca-Cola Family Night program, which presents different themes and activities each week of January and February that encourage families to "play together." The popular "Coca-Cola Judges Cup Design" program is back. Fans can develop their own special cup graphics at www.mycokerewards.com for a chance to have their cup design appear in the show and win a trip to attend an AMERICAN IDOL broadcast. Also online at My Coke Rewards, Coca-Cola will share exclusive behind-the-scenes content, providing fans an inside look at the contestant experience. In addition, a new online program that will let fans help create lyrics for a new song that will debut on an upcoming broadcast will launch later this season. Other activities designed to enhance the AMERICAN IDOL experience will be featured in a variety of retail outlets across the country.

AT&T returns for another exciting season, along with handset partner Motorola, as the official wireless sponsor of AMERICAN IDOL. Once again, AT&T is connecting wireless customers to their favorite IDOL moments directly from their mobile phones, including Vote Number Reminder, Idol Text Chat, Idol Trivia and ? of course ? unlimited text-voting during the voting window after each show (standard text-messaging rates apply).

Additionally, AT&T is hosting its biggest IDOL sweepstakes ever: a chance at up to $10 Million.* Even if you don't win the grand prize, there are lots of fun prizes awarded throughout the season, including the MOTOROLA BRAVO?. There are several ways to enter, such as texting "WIN" to "4004," or by scanning a picture of an AT&T barcode with your mobile phone. To get the AT&T Code Scanner text "SCAN" to "72267." Visit www.americanidol.com/mobile for more chances to win and to learn more about the sweepstakes and other AT&T IDOL elements this season.

Emmy Award-winning AMERICAN IDOL is created and executive-produced by Simon Fuller; and executive-produced by Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO, FremantleMedia North America, Inc.; Ken Warwick, Executive Producer, FremantleMedia North America, Inc.; and Nigel Lythgoe, President, Big Red 2 Entertainment.

*NO PURCHASE/PAYMENT OR TEXT MSG NECESSARY. Open to legal residents of the United States and Puerto Rico who are 18 years or older at time of entry. Starts January 17, 2011, at 12:00:01 am Eastern Time (ET) and ends on May 13, 2011 at 11:59:59 pm ET. To enter and for Official Rules, including odds, alternate method of entry and prize descriptions (including annuity value), visit www.attidolsweepstakes.com. Void where prohibited. Message and data charges may apply.

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" (syndicated), "The Price Is Right" (CBS), and the much-anticipated THE X FACTOR (FOX) for Fall 2011.

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 CKX, Inc.

CKX, Inc. is engaged in the ownership, development and commercial utilization of globally recognized entertainment content. The Company's current properties include the rights to the name, image and likeness of Elvis Presley and Muhammad Ali and the operations of Graceland. Through its wholly-owned division 19 Entertainment Ltd., CKX owns proprietary rights to the Idol and So You Think You Can Dance television brands, including the AMERICAN IDOL series in the United States and local adaptations of the Idol and So You Think You Can Dance television show formats which, collectively, air in more than 100 countries, as well as other television properties. Also through 19, CKX has relationships and partnerships with some of the biggest names in entertainment, including Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson, Chris Daughtry and David Cook. For more information about CKX, Inc., visit its corporate website at www.ckx.com.

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 201,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company's automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Volvo. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford's products, please visit www.ford.com.

About The Coca-Cola Company

The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world's largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands. Along with Coca-Cola?, recognized as the world's most valuable brand, the Company's portfolio includes 12 other billion dollar brands, including Diet Coke?, Fanta?, Sprite?, Coca-Cola Zero?, vitaminwater?, Powerade?, Minute Maid?, Simply? and Georgia?. Globally, we are the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, juices and juice drinks and ready-to-drink teas and coffees. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy the Company's beverages at a rate of 1.6 billion servings a day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our Company is focused on initiatives that protect the environment, conserve resources and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate. For more information about our company, please visit our website at www.thecoca-colacompany.com.

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates ? AT&T operating companies ? are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation's fastest mobile broadband network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet and voice services. A leader in mobile broadband, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse? and AT&T ?DIRECTV brands. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T Advertising Solutions and AT&T Interactive are known for their leadership in local search and advertising. In 2010, AT&T again ranked among the 50 Most Admired Companies by FORTUNE? magazine.

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