American Idol Teams with Mobliss to Help Fans Choose America's Next Idol.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 17, 2003

Last summer, millions of FOX's "American Idol" viewers chose Kelly Clarkson as the program's first American Idol, propelling her first single to the top of the pop music charts. Now the hit series is coming back with an all-new cast of unknown hopefuls--and Mobliss, Inc., www.mobliss.com, a wireless media company, will make voting for a favorite contestant even more compelling by powering AT&T Wireless' text voting application. Text voting allows avid fans to vote for the next "American Idol" from their mobile phones using AT&T Wireless text messaging. This high volume application will be the first major wireless interactive TV tie-in ever seen in the U.S.

Mobliss has been selected as the exclusive technology provider of text voting and on-air polling for "American Idol," the second season of the series that gripped American pop culture. The show, which is produced by FremantleMedia and 19 Entertainment, debuts on Tuesday, January 21, 2003 on FOX.

Starting with the February 4, 2003 telecast, Mobliss' wireless technology will allow AT&T Wireless users with text messaging enabled phones to cast their votes by sending in a text message, using the same contestant codes as those used by traditional call-in voters. Voting lines for "American Idol" open after the show each week and stay open for 2 HOURS ONLY, subject to local time zone limitations. Text votes received outside of these times will not count as votes.

Mobliss' highly configurable platform facilitates the voting, making it easier for viewers to help their favorite contestant advance to the next round. As text messaging continues to skyrocket in popularity among wireless users, Mobliss' technology has been proven to be scalable to the needs of the largest wireless carriers in the U.S.

"Text voting and on-air polling now allow our AT&T Wireless users to participate in such a popular show, as well as provide 'American Idol' with a new medium for casting votes," said Andre Dahan, President of Mobile Multimedia Services, AT&T Wireless. "Mobliss' considerable experience in text messaging and mobile interactive entertainment proves they can handle a promotion of this magnitude."

"With our emphasis on viewer participation, voting via cell phones was a natural next step," says Roberta Mell, executive vice president, marketing for FOX. "Wireless users are an ideal demographic for us, and we're glad it is now easier for them to make their votes count."

In addition to offering AT&T Wireless users the chance to vote for their favorite contestant via their wireless phones, Mobliss is providing on-air polls, which will enable AT&T Wireless subscribers to voice their opinion by sending a text message. Results of these polls will be broadcasted on the show.

"Our Pervasive Media Platform (PMP) offers an interactive TV component that allows wireless carriers, brand marketers and consumers to utilize text messaging in a fun, engaging, entertaining and profitable way," said Brian Levin, president and co-founder of Mobliss. "There's no hotter brand at the moment than 'American Idol,' and now Mobliss is bringing audience interaction via text messaging into the mainstream."

Last summer's phenomenon "American Idol" will make its anticipated second-season debut on Tuesday, January 21, and Wednesday, January 22. The series' special two-part premiere kicks off with a 90-minute episode from 8:00 PM-9:30 PM ET/PT Tuesday followed by a second 90-minute episode from 8:30-10:00 PM ET/PT Wednesday on FOX.

"American Idol" will continue with audition shows the following week, airing a one-hour episode from 8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT on Tuesday, January 28 and following on Wednesday, January 29 with a 90-minute episode from 8:30-10:00 PM ET/PT.

Beginning Tuesday and Wednesday, February 4 and February 5, "American Idol" will begin airing in its regular time periods, following the series format established in season one: contestants compete during an hour-long episode on Tuesday (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) each week, and viewers' choices are revealed on the next night's half-hour results episode (8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT).

About Mobliss

Mobliss(R), based in Seattle, WA, is a leading wireless media company delivering interactive content to over 1 million registered wireless subscribers. The company creates, develops and distributes highly interactive programming designed to entertain, engage, inform and aggregate a highly affluent mobile audience and transform them into customers--using their wireless devices. The company's proprietary Pervasive Media Platform (PMP) allows media companies and marketers to optimize their message according to a subscriber's wireless capabilities, preferences, demographics, permission and geographic location. Mobliss (www.mobliss.com) currently has relationships with the largest wireless service providers in North America including AT&T Wireless, ALLTEL, Bell Mobility, Boost Mobile, Cingular, Nextel, Sprint, Telus, T-Mobile and Verizon.