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Idol Conspiracy: Do Cingular users wield unfair voting power?

by Liz Finn-Arnold, posted Mar 20th 2007 4:00PM

Cingular logoIt's time to talk about the latest Idol Conspiracy Theory. This one goes a little like this: the phone lines are blocked (possibly intentionally, probably not). But text messages get through no matter what. Cingular has an exclusive deal with Idol, which allows only their customers to vote by text message. Cingular customers, therefore, may have an unfair impact on this contest.

Text messaging has become increasingly popular in the last couple of years. And this trend is reflected in Idol voting. In three years of Cingular-sponsorship, the number of text message votes has risen from 7.5 million (in 2004) to 41.5 million (in 2006).

As long as phone problems persist, and text message participation continues to rise, this controversy over the voting process will only fester and grow each year.

A spokeswoman for Cingular/AT&T, Nancy Ford, told The Free Lance-Star that the company increased its capacity, because "We want to make sure those messages get through." She doesn't believe, however, that the setup is unfair, or that Cingular customers have an "undue" amount of voting power.

Nobody seems to know how often phone votes fail to get through. And Executive Producer Ken Warwick has downplayed voting difficulties in the past, calling it a "non-issue."

Over the years, I've only voted a couple of times for Idol, and I can tell you that I was extremely frustrated by busy signals. I do believe that the phone difficulties have actually discouraged me from voting more often. And I wonder how many other people feel the same way. I guess if I really want my vote to count, I should start sending text messages from my Cingular phone.

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Ray

What is going on with this Kid Sanjaya? This is probably probably the worst singer (if you can call him that) that I personally have ever heard. I know of knowone that has voted for him yet he is still there, week after week. I really think the network is keeping him there so that the young viewers along with Pakistan or India or where ever he comes from will continue to tune in. I thought this program was to present the best in talent. Every other one that has been sent home is so far ahead of this kid that it is pathetic! Come on folks, lets get with the program!!

March 22 2007 at 10:40 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
nina

This is really started to make me sick!!! I can not stand that little boy Sanjaya. He knows he can not sing and needs to take him self off the show. Also, he can not even compare to Michael Jackson. He may have similiar looks like the hair, but he do not have the vocals. Please take him off the show !!!

March 22 2007 at 9:47 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Theresa

Of course right after the show the phone lines are clogged. However, I call about an hour after the airing of the show and I always get through to vote as many times as I want to.

March 22 2007 at 9:12 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
cassandra

I don't know what america is thinking about. This is a singing competition not a talant show. Who told Sanjaya he can sing. He is a joke for american idol. All the americans need to STOP voting for him. He's getting plenty of votes from India. If he don't go home next week I will stop watching the show.

March 22 2007 at 8:57 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jan

I have heard that there are groups out there, Howard Stern included, that are voting for Sanjaya to keep him on the show that idol is not what its supposed to be. A contest for singing and not just popularity. I hope for our sakes that the best singers are kept coming back so we won't loose interest in watching. I am starting to feel cheated by good singers being let go ahead of poor ones.

March 22 2007 at 8:35 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Aggie

I just heard someone on the NBC Today Show, comparing Sanjaya to Michael Jackson. I think I'm going to vomit!

March 22 2007 at 8:22 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Tina

I think everyone should leave the poor kid alone , so he isn't a GREAT singer , I personaly don't know what is so wonderful about Lakisha, and last year I thought Taylor Hicks was an awful joke but America must have liked him right? Or does anyones vote Ever count maybe it is All about ratings....

March 22 2007 at 8:15 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Harley Emmons

It is a travesty that Sanjaya is still on this show. He should never have gone to California, much less subjected us to what he calls singing. Time for grown ups to vote and override these teen voters who vote on what they consider good looks and not ability.

March 22 2007 at 8:02 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Kathy

I just found out about Cingular and now I know why Sanjaya is still in there. I have had enough of that poor boy. I am about done watching Idol and will wait and hope that Jordan and Melanie have a great music career and will listen to them then. Oldschool

March 22 2007 at 3:01 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Madeleine

I have a Nokia cell phone and I can not text message to vote either. I couldn't get into the contest AI was having last week either. I don't vote because I can't get through on the phone either, I couldn't last year or the year before, I live outside of chicago. I think its grossly unfair to only be able to use the company that sponsors AI, that's blackmail from where I sit, buy a cellular or be left out. Whats up with that?

March 21 2007 at 2:46 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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