FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) and Zumobi, today introduced the first-ever official American Idol® 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.
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