FremantleMedia Enterprises and 19 Entertainment Expand "American Idol" Facebook Presence Through Cameo Stars

NEW YORK, March 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Cameo Stars, best known for its pioneering platform that enables top entertainers, athletes and personalities to make virtual cameo appearances in the everyday lives of fans, announced today they have joined forces with television's #1 show to enhance the mega brand's social media presence. As a result of Cameo Stars' agreement with FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) and 19 Entertainment, AMERICAN IDOL fans will be able to have the 10th season's Top Ten Finalists appear directly in their Facebook pages.

AMERICAN IDOL "social cameos" will be available following the announcement of the Top Ten Finalists on March 25th in a custom Idol-branded Cameo Stars application at http://apps.facebook.com/cameostars/americanidol.  All social cameos will come to life directly in the recipient's Facebook newsfeed in high definition with no background or borders, featuring each of the finalists in exclusive, never-before-seen content, such as giving "pokes" and singing Happy Birthday.  Additionally, Cameo Stars will be offering one lucky fan a pair of tickets to attend the 10th season finale of AMERICAN IDOL.

"Cameo Stars is very excited to work with FremantleMedia Enterprises and 19 Entertainment to bring this season's American Idol finalists to the millions of Idol fans on Facebook," said Daren Hornig, President and CEO of Cameo Stars. "We feel this collaboration is a natural extension of the show's new social media strategy, and successfully utilizes this platform to deliver customized branded content in a way that has never been done before."

Nicholas Dale, Manager of Interactive for FME added, "We are always looking for creative ways to reach our dedicated Idol fan base.  The Cameo Stars platform provides us with a wonderful opportunity for our finalists to play a more social role in the user's Facebook experience. Our fans have always been eager to connect with the next American Idol and this collaboration helps us take it one step further."

Cameo Stars quickly established itself last year as a social media leader by partnering with some of the world's hottest celebrities including Kim Kardashian, Drew Brees and Dale Earnhardt Jr. to revolutionize the virtual goods market with its "social cameos" concept.  Further expanding its client portfolio, Cameo Stars recently released branded social cameos with Paramount Pictures Corporation and DreamWorks Animation for the highly anticipated film sequel Kung Fu Panda 2 and with leading consumer brand Under Armour, featuring Mixed Martial Arts Champion Georges St-Pierre.

ABOUT AMERICAN IDOL

AMERICAN IDOL is created and executive-produced by Simon Fuller, founder of 19 Entertainment; and executive-produced by Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO, FremantleMedia North America; and Ken Warwick, executive producer, FremantleMedia North America.

ABOUT CAMEO STARS

Cameo Stars is the first and only social entertainment platform that enables A-list celebrities, as well as the stars and characters from leading entertainment companies and consumer brands, to make virtual cameo appearances in the everyday lives of fans through branded social content.  Consumers use the company's applications to share and collect a variety of 'social cameos' directly in their social network pages and mobile devices. Brands and entertainment companies use the Cameo Stars platform to uniquely and directly engage consumers with branded social content in the intimate context of their personal space to forge high-impact connections.  For more information on Cameo Stars and its offerings for consumers, celebrity talent, and brands, please visit www.cameostars.com or follow Cameo Stars on Twitter at www.twitter.com/cameostars.

ABOUT FREMANTLEMEDIA ENTERPRISES & FREMANTLEMEDIA

FremantleMedia is one of the leading creators and producers of entertainment brands in the world. FremantleMedia is part of the RTL Group, Europe's largest television and radio broadcast company, which is in turn 90 percent owned by Bertelsmann AG, one of the world's major media and entertainment companies. FremantleMedia's worldwide production arm is responsible for many of the world's highest rated prime time entertainment, drama, serial drama and factual entertainment programmes. FremantleMedia Enterprises is the brand extension arm of FremantleMedia, offering a one-stop-shop for all Licensing, Distribution and Home Entertainment around the world. The FremantleMedia Group (which includes FremantleMedia North America, UFA, talkbackTHAMES, FremantleMedia Australia and Original Productions amongst others) has operations in 22 countries, one of the most comprehensive global networks, creating nearly 10,000 hours of programming a year, rolling out more than 60 formats and managing over 300 individual titles. FremantleMedia has some of the world's most sought after and long running formats in its catalogue, and globally, produces such programmes as: Idols (co-produced with 19 Productions in the US), Hole In The Wall, Got Talent (co-produced with Syco in the UK and the US), The X Factor (co-produced with Syco in the UK), Take Me Out, Family Feud, The Price is Right, Farmer Wants A Wife, Gute Zeiten Schlechte Zeiten, and Neighbours.

ABOUT CKX Inc.

CKX, Inc. is engaged in the ownership, development and commercial utilization of globally recognized entertainment content. The Company's current properties include the rights to the name, image and likeness of Elvis Presley and Muhammad Ali and the operations of  Graceland.  Through its wholly-owned division 19 Entertainment Ltd., CKX owns proprietary rights to the "Idol" and "So You Think You Can Dance" television brands, including the "American Idol" series in the United States and local adaptations of the "Idol" and "So You Think You Can Dance" television show formats, which collectively, air in more than 100 countries, as well as other television properties.  Also through 19, CKX has relationships and partnerships with some of the biggest names in entertainment, including Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson, Chris Daughtry and David Cook.  For more information about CKX, Inc., visit its corporate website at www.ckx.com.

SOURCE Cameo Stars