So, YTYCD, Huh?
With so many great TV programs to choose from on Wednesday nights, how do you decide what to watch? Remember that TV ratings don't lie, and the latest season of "So You Think You Can Dance," SYTYCD, is dominating broadcast television ratings. Dancing may not be your favorite pastime, but SYTYCD really has something for everyone! From hip hop to jazz to salsa to contemporary, this television program captivates millions of Americans each Wednesday and Thursday night. Perhaps it is time for you to see what the hype is about?
Last night marked the first elimination round of the season, featuring a performance by Sean Kingston. The judges spoke, and Tony Bellissimo and Paris Torres were eliminated. Season five of SYTYCD features Nigel Lythgoe, British film producer and director, and Ohio-born MaryAnn Murphy, ballroom dance champion, as permanent judges. Do you agree with this week's elimination? Catch up on this week's episode online, and get ready for next week's thrilling performances!
Regional Customer Meeting
Today, Dallas-based AT&T revealed that by hosting its regional customer meeting via Telepresence, as opposed to face-to-face, it reduced carbon emissions by over 62 metric tons. Not only did AT&T reduce carbon dioxide emissions, it saved Regional Advisory Council (RAC) participants upwards of $100,000.
The AT&T Asia Pacific Group meets biannually, with about 20 of its regional and international customers who comprise the RAC. The group discusses a broad range of topics, including new products and services; investment plans for upcoming markets; and service quality and support.
"These meetings are critical in terms of getting direct feedback from some of our biggest customers," said Bernard Yee, Vice President of AT&T Asia Pacific. "While we don't intend to do away with face-to-face meetings entirely, we felt that hosting this meeting by Telepresence was not only the responsible thing to do in the current economic climate, but also a great opportunity to showcase how efficient and cost-effective this solution can be for our customers."
In the past, RAC meetings have been held on location in China, with participants typically designating 3 to 4 days for the event (including travel time). AT&T funded the meetings - often costing more than $100,000, while customers paid for travel and lodging expenses. According to Will Thomas, AT&T Asia Pacific RAC Chairman, the remote meeting was efficient, providing a truly personal, lifelike virtual experience.
"These meetings are all about open, honest exchanges of views and opinions from both sides," Thomas said. "We not only managed to achieve our key meeting objectives in about four hours, we also had the chance to thoroughly test the technology by involving so many people in multiple locations."
"Aside from the cost savings we achieved by meeting in this way, we were able to be more productive and improve our work life balance by avoiding the need to travel, as well as reduce the impact on the environment," Thomas added.
Idol Text Success
On May 22, Dallas-based AT&T announced that over 178 million text messages were transmitted over its network in connection with season eight of American Idol. Fans of America's No. 1 TV show used AT&T's network to answer trivia questions, submit questions to AT&T-hosted chat sessions, receive voting number reminders, and participate in AT&T sweepstakes. Of course, American Idol fans also use the network to submit votes!
During season eight, fans used AT&T's network more than ever before. Total sent messages increased from 78 million during season seven, to 178 million during season eight. More than twice as many AT&T subscribers participated in weekly American Idol trivia games via text message the season, compared to last season. The percent of AT&T customers who utilized voting number reminders - a weekly text message listing AI contestants' voting numbers - increased by 70% since 2008. American Idol fans who utilized voting number reminders during season eight sent almost twice as many text votes, compared to the average AI voter.
In addition, season eight American Idol contestants dominated AT&T's ringtone charts. During the week of May 10, AI ringtones occupied 15 of AT&T's top 100 positions.
"American Idol is a smash hit with our customers, so just as FOX raises the bar every year for the show, every season we work to bring our customers new ways to get their IDOL fix through our products and services," said Andy Wilson, Vice President of National Marketing for AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. "We feel this season was our best yet, evidenced not only by heavy texting traffic but in the great response to the other terrific IDOL-related content we made available."
Additionally, AT&T's Million Dollar Idol Sweepstakes was a hit with AI fans. Kori Hoesel won the grand prize - a trip to the American Idol season finale. Hoesel, from Friendswood, Texas, brought her daughter to the event.
6 MTV Channels in HD
Today, Dallas-based AT&T disclosed the expansion of its U-verse TV HD channel lineup. AT&T will now offer six high definition channels from MTV Networks. AT&T's HD content expansion follows a recent initiative to deliver more international programming channels, and at least 100 high definition channels in each U-verse TV market in March 2009.
U-verse TV subscribers can now watch VH1 HD, CMT HD, MTV HD, COMEDY CENTRAL HD, Nickelodeon HD, and Spike HD in addition to existing HD content included with their service subscription. Channel availability depends on the AT&T programming package selected. Taking the recent MTV Networks HD additions into account, AT&T U-verse continues to be the leading cable TV service available in each market - offering the largest HD channel lineup!
"We've made the U-verse TV HD experience better again by expanding our HD channel lineup to include these popular networks," stated Dan York, Executive Vice President of Content and Programming, AT&T Converged Services. "These HD additions help us with several strategic content initiatives and allow us to continue to deliver more HD channels than the major local cable providers, all at a great value."
AT&T U-verse offers two HD solutions. High definition service is provided to U450 programming subscribers, or is available a la carte for $10/month. HD service can be added to any U-verse TV programming package. For customers interested in premium content, AT&T offers the HD Premium Tier for an extra $5/month. Every U-verse customer receives HD-read equipment, and most subscribers receive an HD-ready Total Home DVR. With an HD DVR, AT&T customers can record HD content from a single DVR. These programs can be accessed on any connected television within their home.
AT&T U-verse is one of the most feature-rich and dynamic entertainment services available, as it offers the only 100% IPTV (Internet Protocol-based television) service available in the United States.
Better 3G Coverage
On Friday, Dallas-based AT&T announced plans to obtain wireless properties from top competitor, Verizon, in efforts to improve 3G network coverage in America's rural neighborhoods. Eighteen states will be affected by the transaction.
Under this agreement, costing AT&T $2.35 billion, the telecom giant will seize 18 of the 24 markets that Verizon gained as part of its recent acquisition of Alltel Wireless. Because of Verizon's deal with Alltel, the wireless carrier became the largest provider in the United States - pushing AT&T down to the second position.
Friday's transaction, to be specific, will provide AT&T with various wireless properties, licenses, and network assets - including 1.5 million existing customers in nearly 80 service regions. The rural areas of Wyoming, Virginia, Utah, Tennessee, South Dakota, North Dakota, New Mexico, Nevada, Nebraska, Montana, Minnesota, Michigan, Kansas, Iowa, Colorado, California, Arizona, and Alabama will be affected.
"Wireless continues to be AT&T's greatest growth driver, and this transaction will complement our existing network coverage, particularly in rural areas," said AT&T Chief Executive Ralph de la Vega. "The acquisition will add network assets, distribution channels, and 850 MHz spectrum in a significant portion of the U.S., enabling even better coverage for AT&T's subscribers in those areas."
Changing the above-mentioned markets to Global System for Mobile (GSM) technology from Verizon's Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) and converting operations to AT&T is predicted to take approximately one year. This transition is expected to cost approximately $400 million. Once the conversion is finished, customers in the above-mentioned areas will be able to enjoy AT&T's 3G network and compatible devices including the Blackberry Bold and iPhone.
The Dallas-based company told investors that the transaction is predicted to provide long-term stockholder value. This is AT&T's most recent initiative hoping to expand its wireless data services, which represents an important area of improvement. Last year, the telecom giant spent over $15 billion to extend its wireless network.