Google today launched a new feature that lets American Idol fans vote for their favorite performers directly from the search engine from their phone, tablet, or desktop. At the same time, Facebook has agreed to support on-air voting progress updates based on real-time East Coast data.
Here is how the new Google feature works:
- Search: Visit google.com or use the Google Search App for Android or iOS and search for [american idol] or [idol] during the voting window and select from your favorite finalists.
- Vote: Add up to 50 votes per contestant. You can select your favorites and submit your picks – directly from Google. You can vote for as many contestants as you want.
- Submit: Click submit to send your votes to American Idol. Then watch Idol videos on YouTube, share on Google+, or go back and vote for another contestant if you haven’t yet.
The first show is tonight, which is why the Google feature is going live today. Facebook has yet to officially announce its participation, which will allow at-home viewers to see how their favorite finalists are faring in the voting polls at a given time, but this is likely because its integration is limited to “select live shows.”
FremantleMedia, 19 Entertainment/CORE Media Group, and FOX first announced the partnerships with the biggest search and social networking companies late last month. The goal is to give fans “powerful new interactive on-air and online experiences” for American Idol XIII.
“This season of American Idol is all about re-connecting fans with what they love most about the show – the journey of the contestants from hopefuls to stardom,” Fox SVP Bill Bradford said in a statement. “With the help of innovators like Google and Facebook, this season, we’re deepening that connection by making it easy for fans to make a bigger impact and be a bigger part of the show than ever before.”
While this type of deal is unique for both Google and Facebook, if all goes well, it probably won’t be the last.
Top Image Credit: Karen Bleier/Getty Images
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