Technology Again Causes American Idol Controversy, Fingers Pointed At AT&T
from the newsworthy dept
Apparently the outcome of the latest season of American Idol caused some controversy when the contestant generally regarded as the underdog of the two finalists was crowned the winner, provoking an angry backlash from his rival's fans. Now, they're pointing the finger at AT&T, alleging it helped skew the vote. This isn't the first time telecommunications have caught this sort of flak, as it's been a regular occurrence during the show's run that people have faced jammed phone lines when they've tried to vote. But this time, it's a little different. Apparently AT&T reps were at a couple of viewing parties organized by fans of the winning contestant, Kris Allen, and brought along a bunch of phones with them -- since, of course, only people on AT&T's wireless network can vote for the show's winner via text message. Then, the reps supposedly showed people at the parties how to "power text", or send in several votes at once. It seems unlikely that the votes spawned from the two parties were enough to tip the balance in Allen's favor, but the appearance of impropriety on the part of one of the show's major sponsors may be a bit more damaging.Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
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Filed Under: american idol, bias, controversy, texting, voting
Companies: at&t
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As for the texting.. I'd like to see the numbers and what the margin of victory was.
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R. Miles
Simply by airing was enough for me.
Nothing good has come from this show and this article just added another reason to the "Reasons why this show should be cancelled" list.
But there's way too much cash flowing to do so, and even AT&T's "involvement" won't be enough to stop it.
AT&T will simply come out with an apology, everyone forgives, and next season will spark another new "controversy".
So where was the real damage done? From what I gather, even "runner ups" can get recording contracts.
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Re: R. Miles
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Reps
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The outcome of Idol should not have been a surprise
Now if AT&T and Idol want to assure voters, they would release the final vote tally. They won't do that though, because Kris probably won by a large margin.
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Re: The outcome of Idol should not have been a surprise
It is a closed process.
You want the truth? Their viewing audience "CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH".
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Re: Re: The outcome of Idol should not have been a surprise
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Re: The outcome of Idol should not have been a surprise
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sidestep...
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AT&T rep could mean anyone who happens to work for AT&T and knows how the text systems works. That could be a tech, a trainer, or anyone like that. Because the story is not very precise, there is no way to know if this is an AT&T sanctioned attempt to sway the vote, or just some dumbass employees trying to impress their friends.
It also doesn't address the fact that the size of their vote sample, no matter how agressive they would be, would still fall in the category of a rounding error if removed. With 100,000,000 votes, they would have had to generate a million votes just to have a 1% influence on the outcome. Not very likely.
Further, the story doesn't address the actual end results. From reports I have seen, the winner beat the loser by a substantial margin. This is further supported by soundscan reports that the winner outsold the loser by about 6 to 1 on music sales.
For the most part, the story reads like a whine from a group of people who didn't get their way.
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Re:
100,000,000?? Really? Says who?
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Re: Re:
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Idols South Africa
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Bud ads suck ass
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Updated statement from AT&T
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Re: Updated statement from AT&T
Hey Mike, how about a retraction, now that there is significant contradictory evidence in play?
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Re: Re: Updated statement from AT&T
1. I didn't write the post.
2. The post said quite clearly that it was unlikely that this issue really had an impact (try reading next time) which is the same thing AT&T said... so they agree with us. Their statement doesn't change anything.
3. The POINT was that any appearance of impropriety looks bad, and AT&T should consider such things.
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Re: Re: Re: Updated statement from AT&T
So, retraction?
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Updated statement from AT&T
Reading comprehension time: Carlo made it clear that it was silly to think AT&T influenced the election, and that the issue is the controversy over this.
So, retraction?
Retract what? That Carlo got the story right? Point me to a single factually incorrect statement in the post?
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Re: Re: Re: Updated statement from AT&T
The general sense I get from TD is that it's a bunch of angry guys who aren't real good at "doing" or "creating" anything so aim their venom at those who "do".
And that's okay... You're fun to read for a good laugh. It's always fun to read your snarkiness, but you hardly offer serious or insightful commentary or insight. You're kind of like a less funny, less creative, more angry Valleywag.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Updated statement from AT&T
I'm the editor and I stand by the post. It's 100% accurate. I'm confused what you think my "general worldview" is. This story is about the controversy stirred up here (which happened) and how it was because of a small thing by some AT&T employees (which happened).
It wasn't blaming AT&T for influencing the vote, and in fact said exactly the opposite.
The general sense I get from TD is that it's a bunch of angry guys who aren't real good at "doing" or "creating" anything so aim their venom at those who "do".
Your general sense is amusing, but wrong. It makes me wonder what site you're reading. I'm a very happy guy, who spends my days doing an awful lot. I have no real anger at anyone, though I am amused at folks with reading comprehension problems.
And that's okay... You're fun to read for a good laugh. It's always fun to read your snarkiness, but you hardly offer serious or insightful commentary or insight. You're kind of like a less funny, less creative, more angry Valleywag.
You are clearly reading a different site.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Updated statement from AT&T
At least Valleywag is forthright about its salaciousness -- their post about the Real Housewives of New Jersey was a rip-snortin good read AND accurate. This... Not so much. Maybe you should read your own comments Mr. "reading comprehension" - start with Bob in Baltimore - it's fairly digest-able and the biggest word is "systematic" (relating to or consisting of a system).
Stand by the post all you want, but it's not "100%" accurate... It's not accurate at all. Furthermore, your writer's snot-filled bias is showing with piffle like this: "...since, of course, only people on AT&T's wireless network can vote for the show's winner via text message." Harrumph, Harrumph!
His point being what exactly? That the commercial arrangement AT&T struck with AI deprives non ATT customers from voting? Aha! That's it. It's the whole "openness" "free content", "free love" anti-corporate, web 2.0, "sell more magazines by making them round and including a frisbee" bs -- THAT'S your "general worldview"...
But those days are over. Web 2.5 will be all about commerce and profit and real business plans.
That's likely going to be tough for folks like you and yorn who can't "do", but feel perfectly content blowing their noses all over those who can.
As I say... You're definitely fun to read for entertainment. Kind of like my wife's Us Weekly which I thoroughly enjoy flipping through during my morning constitution. No harm in being the snarky paparazzi of the Internet, just don't expect the rest of us to take you seriously.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Updated statement from AT&T
Try turning on your sarcasm filter next time...
Stand by the post all you want, but it's not "100%" accurate... It's not accurate at all.
Ha! I ask you to point out a single inaccurate point, and you don't. Tells me a lot.
Furthermore, your writer's snot-filled bias is showing with piffle like this: "...since, of course, only people on AT&T's wireless network can vote for the show's winner via text message." Harrumph, Harrumph!
His point being what exactly? That the commercial arrangement AT&T struck with AI deprives non ATT customers from voting?
Um, someone read WAY too much into that statement. That was simply explanatory, not derogatory. The point was explaining that only AT&T customers could vote via text. It's not derogatory at all.
You seem to read our posts with a tone that isn't at all what was written.
That's it. It's the whole "openness" "free content", "free love" anti-corporate, web 2.0, "sell more magazines by making them round and including a frisbee" bs -- THAT'S your "general worldview".
Huh? We're not anti-corporate at all. You do realize that we help lots of big companies make more money. Our focus is on helping them do things right and make more money. We will make fun of companies for doing something *wrong* but that's to help prevent them from doing it wrong again.
You really seem to read stuff into what we write that's not there.
But those days are over. Web 2.5 will be all about commerce and profit and real business plans.
Indeed. We've always focused on helping companies put in place better business plans, and we've always mocked companies that had no real business plan or a dumb business plan. I'm not sure why you're so angry at us when we basically agree with you.
That's likely going to be tough for folks like you and yorn who can't "do", but feel perfectly content blowing their noses all over those who can.
Now this is really funny. After all, we've been running a PROFITABLE web business for about a decade even as many others have struggled. So we DO all the time and we have a REAL BUSINESS model that's all about COMMERCE and PROFIT. And we do quite nicely.
So why are you so angry at us? You should try reading what we write more carefully, because you seem to think we say stuff we don't.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Updated statement from AT&T
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idol vote
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Texting Tips
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curse of the idol
We should be happy things turned out the way they did.
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I don't feel bad for being the only one you use this technique on. You truly are skilled at dismissing people.
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ATT Power Texting
"Eric Green, a spokesperson for "American Idol" said Wednesday that he couldn't comment on the producers' definitions of "technical enhancements" or "significant blocks of votes," or if power texting constitutes either."
Technical enhancement/significant block votes can be disallowed by Idol producers.
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