WLS-TV’s CHICAGO IDOL

Official Contest Rules

I. CONTEST SPONSOR(S)

WLS Television, Inc., 190 N State Street, Chicago, IL 60601

AN ENTRY INTO WLS-TV’s CHICAGO IDOL CONTEST IS NOT AN AUDITION FOR THE AMERICAN IDOL PROGRAM (the “PROGRAM”), ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS MAY LEARN HOW TO AUDITION FOR THE PROGRAM BY VISITING www.americanidol.com.

Winning the WLS-TV’s Chicago Idol Contest does not mean you will be selected to appear on American Idol. Any FOL Prize winner’s or Silver Ticket Prize winner’s subsequent audition for American Idol is subject to the American Idol Audition Terms & Conditions, available at www.abc.go.com/shows/american-idol. In the event production of American Idol is cancelled or postponed, the prizing may be cancelled without substitution or compensation therefor.

“IDOL” and related indicia: ™/© FremantleMedia North America, Inc. & 19 Entertainment 2017.

II. ELIGIBILITY

Subject to the additional restrictions below, the WLS-TV Chicago Idol Contest (the “Contest”) is open to  legal U.S. residents of Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin; who reside in one of the following counties in the “Contest Area”: in Illinois - Lake, McHenry, DeKalb, Kane, DuPage, Cook, Kendall, Will Grundy, Kankakee, La Salle; in Indiana - Lake, Porter, La Porte, Newton, Jasper; and in Wisconsin - Kenosha, Walworth, Racine; and meet the following requirements:

A. By June 11, 2017 you must be 15 to 28 years old (which means you must be born on or between June 12, 1988 and June 11, 2002). If you were born before or after this window, you are not eligible to participate this season. If you are under the age of 18 at the time of any in-person audition for the Program or this Contest, you must have a parent or legal guardian present.

B. You must be a legal U.S. resident and reside in the Contest Area with the unrestricted right to work in the United States throughout the entire competition portion of the Program and through the term of any post show agreements provided by Producer or any of the other Program Entities (as defined below).

C. To accept an invitation to participate in the competition portion of the Program (currently scheduled to begin in January 2018), you must be able to demonstrate to the satisfaction of Producer that you do not have any contractual arrangement that would prohibit you from fully participating in the show and/or entering into any contracts required by Producer, including, but not limited to, an exclusive recording contract, merchandising contract, a live and/or global touring agreement and an exclusive management contract (subject to paragraph D below).

D. In the event that you already have a management contract prior to your first audition in front of the Program judges, the requirement to enter into a management contract shall not apply to you provided that you can demonstrate to the satisfaction of Producer and 19 Entertainment that such contract commenced prior to the date of your first audition in front of the Program judges. By accepting an invitation to be a participant, you must timely complete and return such participant agreements, releases and all exhibits, schedules and attachments thereto that will be furnished to you by Producer and/or 19 Entertainment.

E. You must not currently be a candidate for public office and must agree not to become a candidate for public office until one (1) year after the initial exhibition of the final episode of the Program in which you appear (if selected to participate).

F. As of June 11, 2017 and continuing through the completion of the competition, neither you nor any of your immediate family members or members of your household (whether related or not), may be an employee, officer or director of: (a) WLS Television, Inc., (“WLS-TV” or “Sponsor”), (b) NEG Operations Inc. and all majority owned subsidiaries (including, but not limited to, 19 Entertainment Limited, 19 Entertainment, Inc., 19 Touring LLC, 19 Recordings Limited and 19 TV Limited) (collectively, the “19 Companies”); (c) American Idol Productions, Inc. (“Producer”); (d) American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. (“ABC”); (e) FremantleMedia North America, Inc. (“FremantleMedia”); (f) Telescope Inc.; (g) any of the foregoing entities’ respective parents, subsidiaries or affiliated companies; (h) any person or entity involved in the casting, auditions, development, production, distribution, or other exploitation of the Program or any variation thereof; (i) any known, major sponsor of the Program; or (j) any person or entity supplying services or prizes to the Program, administering the Contest (including cast and crew) of the Windy City LIVE (“WCL”) television show. The entities described in the preceding sentence shall be referred to herein, individually and collectively, as the “Program Entities.”

G. You must accurately complete all documents provided by Producer, any of the other Program Entities or any other entity providing services to the Program. Please note that in order to enjoy the full benefit of any prize offered as part of the Program, you must be a legal U.S. resident with the unrestricted right to work in the United States throughout the entire competition portion of the Program and through the term of any post show agreements provided by Producer or any of the other Program Entities. Producer has the sole discretion to make determinations of contestant eligibility, which are binding and final in all respects, and Producer reserves the right to change any of the eligibility requirements at any time. In addition, you acknowledge and agree that Producer has the sole discretion at any time to render ineligible and disqualify any person who, in Producer’s sole discretion, is sufficiently acquainted with the development, production, administration, judging, exhibition or other exploitation of the Program such that his or her participation in the Program could create the appearance of impropriety.

III. HOW AND WHEN TO ENTER

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR TO WIN. ALL FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL AND MUNICIPAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS APPLY. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.

The Contest will begin at 12:01 AM Central Time (“CT”) on August 16, 2017 and will end at 3:00 PM CT on August 30, 2017 (the “Contest Entry Period”). Finalists must be available to perform, in-person at WLS-TV on or about Friday, September 8, 2017. Sponsor will be the official timekeeper for the Contest.

TO ENTER:  Entrants can go to Sponsor’s websites to submit entry on ABC7Chicago.com or WindyCityLIVE.com and click on the “WLS-TV Chicago Idol” graphic; or use the direct Contest link to enter (http://woobox.com/chy5o5). Entrants or Entrants’ parent or legal guardian, if Entrant is a minor (under 18 years of age), must complete a registration form with their first and last name, complete mailing address including street, city, state, and zip code, an email address, contact phone number, date of birth, and upload one (1) unedited thirty to sixty-second (0:30 - 0:60) video submission (50 mb or less) of the Entrant singing one (1) acapella song selection (no musical accompaniment or recorded track). If Entrant is a minor, entry must be submitted by parent or legal guardian, with the email address and contact phone number for parent or legal guardian. Maximum of one (1) entry per person during the Contest Entry Period.  Maximum of one (1) winner per household during the Contest Entry Period.

Sponsor is not responsible for failure to receive entries due to transmission failures or technical failures of any kind, including: failed, partial or garbled computer transmissions, or electronic malfunction or damage of any network, hardware or software. If for any reason the Contest is not capable of running as planned, including infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or other causes that corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of the Contest, Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual who tampers with the entry process, and/or to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Contest. No responsibility is assumed for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, communications line failure, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to, or alteration of, entries; or any problems or technical malfunctions of any telephone network or lines, computer online systems, servers, or providers, computer equipment, software, failure of any e-mail or electronic entry to be received on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any Website, or any combination thereof, including any injury or damage to entrant’s or any other person’s computer related to or resulting from participation in or downloading any materials from this Contest. 

IV. HOW AND WHEN FINALISTS AND WINNERS WILL BE SELECTED AND NOTIFIED

On or about Wednesday, August 30, 2017, following the Contest Entry Period, Sponsor will select up to ten (10) Finalists from all submitted entries based on the following “Judging Criteria”: vocal performance (50%), stage presence (30%), and overall appeal (20%). 

On August 31, 2017, Finalists will be notified via email and later contacted via telephone by WCL Production Staff.  All Finalists will be required to appear on the Windy City LIVE broadcast on Friday, September 8, 2017.  Finalists will also be announced live on-air the Windy City LIVE broadcast on Tuesday, September 5, 2017.

Finalists will receive an approved list of songs via email that may be performed on Windy City LIVE on Friday, September 8, 2017.  Finalists will only be allowed to choose songs from this approved list. No exceptions.  No two Finalists may perform the same song.  Finalists will be required to reply to the email received indicating their first and second song choices, no later than September 5, 2017 in the event of a tie, the song assignment will be determined by a random drawing conducted by Sponsor, and the final song selections will be provided to Finalist no later than September 6, 2017.

Finalists will be notified via email and/or telephone once permission has been granted for the performance of their song selection.

On Friday, September 8, 2017, Finalists will be required to arrive at the Windy City LIVE studio at 190 N State Street, Chicago, IL 60601 no later than 12:00PM CT and plan to be there until 2:30 PM CT.  Finalists will perform approved song selection solo in front of a live “Judging Panel”, selected by Sponsor on the WCL broadcast between 1:00 PM CT and 2:00 PM CT.  Performance must be a capella (no musical accompaniment or recorded track) and no more than sixty (60) seconds in length.  The order in which Finalists perform is totally at the discretion of the WCL Executive Producer or his designee.

The Judging Panel will evaluate and provide feedback to each Finalist as well as a score for his/her performance based on the Judging Criteria: vocal performance (50%), stage presence (30%), and overall appeal (20%).  Following all performances, judges will discuss performances privately, ranking each Finalist in the order of judge’s score, the top scoring Finalist will receive the Grand Prize and the next highest scoring winners will receive First Prizes..  Should there be a tie, Windy City LIVE’s Executive Producer or his designee shall make the final determination.

One (1) Grand Prize Winner and Nine (9) First Place Winners will be announced live on the Windy City LIVE broadcast on Friday, September 8, 2017 between the hours of 1:00 PM CT and 2:00 PM CT.

In the event the Grand prize-winner is deemed ineligible, fails to comply with contest procedures, or is unable to claim prize as specified, the Grand prize will be awarded to the second highest scoring Finalist, assuming timing allows.

Final determination of winners is always conditional on verification of eligibility and compliance with all rules and procedures.

V. PRIZE(S)

GRAND PRIZE:  One (1) Silver Ticket Prize Package: One (1) Silver Ticket; a Trip for winner  to the nearest  “Celebrity Judging City” in October or November 2017 to be determined by Program Entities at a later date; One (1) round-trip economy class air fare to “Celebrity Judging City” on an airline determined by Sponsor; Two (2) nights hotel stay in a single room in “Celebrity Judging City” at a hotel chosen by Sponsor; One (1) round-trip ground transportation to/from airport in “Celebrity Judging City” ARV of Prize: $1075.00 US. 

Should Grand Prize Winner be a minor, Grand Prize will also include One (1) additional round-trip economy air fare to “Celebrity Judging City” on an airline of Sponsor’s choosing in Economy class for a parent/guardian to attend with the minor.  ARV of Prize would be $1575.00 US.  Winner and parent/guardian must travel on the same itinerary.  Winner and parent/guardian must stay in the same hotel room.

The “Silver Ticket Prize Package” cannot be purchased there is no retail value for this portion of the prize.  Silver Ticket guarantees Winner an in-person, audition for “American Idol” Executive Producers in a “Celebrity Judging City” a city to be named at a later date.  No Silver Ticket audition is guaranteed before “American Idol” celebrity judges and judges auditions are strictly at the discretion of “American Idol” Executive Producers.  All auditions for “American Idol” are subject to American Idol Audition Terms & Conditions and available at AmericanIdol.com.

FIRST PRIZE: One (1) “American Idol” Front of Line (“FOL”) Pass to be redeemed for the Chicago Bus Auditions on Monday, September 11, 2017 at Chicago's McCormick Place Convention Center. Since First Prize cannot be purchased there is no retail value.  FOL Pass allows Winner to jump to front of the main audition line to be seen earlier by producers of “American Idol.”  FOL Pass does not guarantee an audition before “American Idol” celebrity judges and are strictly at the discretion of “American Idol” Executive Producers.  All auditions for “American Idol” are subject to American Idol Audition Terms & Conditions available at AmericanIdol.com.

Any Contest prize-winner under the age of 18 years must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian for all “American Idol” auditions.

All prize Winners will need to sign and submit the “American Idol” audition paperwork before they can be seen by Executive Producers of the show.

Sponsor is not responsible for cancellation or preemption of show and/or audition event or for other circumstances that make it impractical or impossible to fulfill this element of the prize. This element of the prize has no approximate retail value, and if it becomes impractical or impossible to fulfill this element, Sponsor’s only obligation will be to provide the remainder, if any, of the prize.

VI. RELEASES

By participating, entrants agree to be bound by these official rules and the decisions of the Contest Sponsor, which shall be final in all respects. By participating in this Contest and accepting any prize that they may win, entrants agree to release WLS Television, Inc., Jelmar, Inc. (parent of CLR Brands), American Idol Productions, FremantleMedia North America, Inc., American Broadcasting Companies, Inc., NEG Operations Inc. and all majority owned subsidiaries (including, but not limited to, 19 Entertainment Limited, 19 Entertainment, Inc., 19 Touring LLC, 19 Recordings Limited and 19 TV Limited), Telescope, Inc. its parent, subsidiary, affiliated and successor companies, advertising and promotion agencies and prize suppliers, and all majority owned subsidiaries, and each of their respective officers, directors, agents, representatives and employees, as well as each of their respective successors, representatives and assigns (collectively, the “Released Parties”) from any and all actions, claims, injury, loss or damage arising in any manner, directly or indirectly, from participation in this Contest and/or acceptance or use of the prize.

Entrants authorize the Released Parties to use their name, voice, likeness, biographical data, city and state of residence and entry materials in programming or promotional material, in any media now known or hereinafter created or conceived, worldwide in perpetuity, or on a winner’s list, if applicable, without further compensation unless prohibited by law. Sponsor is not obligated to use any of the above mentioned information or materials, but may do so and may edit such information or materials, at Sponsor’s sole discretion, without further obligation or compensation.

Any attempt to deliberately damage any Web site or undermine the legitimate operations of this contest may be a violation of criminal and civil laws, and should such an attempt be made, WLS Television, Inc., or its designated representative, reserves the right to seek damages from any person associated with such actions to the fullest extent permitted by law. Sponsor or its designated representative, reserves the right to cancel, modify or suspend the contest if it should become compromised in any way or if it becomes technically corrupted.

To claim prize, (a) winner may be required to provide proof of age, identity and residency, (b) winner must sign and return affidavit of eligibility/compliance with rules, publicity/liability release and indemnification, and any other releases requested by Sponsor and/or Program Entities, in addition to any releases for guest/travel companion to sign and return, if any, all within the time period specified by Sponsor.

VII. MISCELLANEOUS; WINNERS’ LIST

Void where prohibited. All federal, state and local laws and regulations apply.

Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual who tampers with the entry process and to cancel, terminate, modify and/or suspend the Contest in the event of tampering or other circumstances, including but not limited to acts of God or civil disturbance that render it impractical or impossible to complete or fulfill the contest as originally planned.

For the list of the prize winners, visit ABC7Chicago.com or WindyCityLIVE.com within 30 days of contest end date; or send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to "WLS TV’s Chicago Idol” Contest Winners, 190 N State Street, Chicago, IL 60601 within 60 days of contests end date.