proves that television viewers love to interact with television programs
via 900 numbers.
When most people think about 900 numbers for television, they usually
think about those ads with girls in hot tubs that have been seen on
American television since 1987. This is true despite the fact that AT&T
and MCI have not allowed adult entertainment on 900 numbers for many
years.
The fact is it was television that actually made 900 numbers a reality
in the first place. 900 numbers were first used on television when ABC
wanted a way to gauge public opinion of who won the 1980 presidential
debate between President Jimmy Carter and then Governor Ronald Reagan.
Viewers chose the Californian and both a new presidency and a new
technology were launched.
Years later, those zanies from Saturday Night Live got in the television
900 number act as well. Host Eddie Murphy polled the viewing audience on
whether to boil Larry the Lobster or spare its life. The sympathetic
viewers chose to spare the crustacean, but Murphy boiled Larry anyway.
Today, interactive text messaging is the newest rage for polling
television audiences. It's quick, easy, and the viewer doesn't even have
to get up from the couch to dial like in the 900 number days. Moreover,
text messaging can be either standard rate (free to the television
viewer) or premium rate (where the viewer pays a fee to participate).
Hence, text messaging can be become a new profit center for the
television station.
But, clearly there's still a place for the use of a 900 number in
conjunction with a television audience participation event. If the
December 11, 2005 edition of ABC's Wide World of Sports is any
indication, television viewers still like the ease of participating via
a 900 number.
ABC's Marshall's Figure Skating Challenge allowed viewers a chance to
vote for the best male and female figure skater during the two hour
show. Viewers were permitted to vote for free online or pay 75 cents to
vote via a 900 number or via text message.
Viewers cast over 105,000 votes during the event. The free online
version garnered the most votes, but only slightly ahead of the 900
number. Text messaging was a distant third.
"We were surprised the 900 number did so well, quite frankly," said Bob
Bentz, co-owner of Advanced Telecom Services. "It shows television
audiences still like the convenience of participating by 900 numbers.
The amazing thing is that the 900 number got almost as many votes as the
free online voting did."
Clearly, the successful use of the 900 number in the figure skating
challenge emphasizes that 900 numbers still have a place in television
broadcasts. It makes one wonder why television doesn't use 900 numbers
more often.
Maybe it's those girls in hot tubs that still linger in the minds of
television executives.
Bob Bentz is co-owner of Advanced Telecom Services. Advanced Telecom
Services has offices in Philadelphia, London, Prague, Vancouver, Dublin,
and Cape Town. Bentz has been actively involved in the 900 number
business since 1989. He is also the author of "Opportunity is Calling:
How to Start Your Own 900 Number." Advanced Telecom Services provided
both the 900 number and the premium text message voting for the ABC's
Wide World of Sports event.
Press Contact: Robert Bentz
Company Name: ADVANCED TELECOM SERVICES
Email: email protected from spam bots
Phone: 6102547191
Website: http://www.advancedtele.com
AndhraNews.net News for May 8, 2006