News Corp : Sponsors Announced for Season 11 of American Idol

Ford, Coca-ColaAT&T Return as Official Sponsors Two-Night Season Premiere Begins Tonight on FOX

Los Angeles, January 18th 2012 - Fox Broadcasting Company (FOX); 19 Entertainment Ltd., a division of CKX, Inc.;FremantleMedia today announced that Ford Motor Company, Coca-ColaAT&T will return as the official sponsors for the 11th season of AMERICAN IDOL.

The incredible journey is about to begin as AMERICAN IDOL, America's No. 1 show, returns tonight. Featuring host Ryan Seacrestreturning judges Randy Jackson, Jennifer LopezSteven Tyler, AMERICAN IDOL is set to return with a two-night event showcasing the nation's most extraordinary talent from Savannah auditions on Wednesday, Jan. 18 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT)Pittsburgh auditions on Thursday, Jan. 19 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT). Auditions from San Diego will be featured on a special, extended primetime broadcast of AMERICAN IDOL Sunday, Jan. 22 (10:00-11:00 PM ET/7:00-8:00 PM PT), following the NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME (6:00 PM-CC ET live/3:00 PM-CC PT live) on FOX.

Ford returns as the official automotive sponsor of AMERICAN IDOL. As a leading partner since the show's debut in 2002, Ford will continue to engage AMERICAN IDOL fans with uniqueexclusive content throughout the upcoming season. Once again, Ford vehiclesthe AMERICAN IDOL finalists will be featured each week in Ford music videos, airing Thursday nights. This original content, along with candid "making of" segments featuring the contestants, will also be available on . In addition, Ford will launch an all-new online promotion, offering fans an exclusive chance to win the ultimate AMERICAN IDOL experience. More details will be announced shortly.

AMERICAN IDOL will continue to serve as a key platform for a variety of Ford vehicles, including the all-new 2013 Ford Escape. Ford will award a brand-new vehicle to both the runner-upSeason 11 AMERICAN IDOL winner.

For the 11th season of AMERICAN IDOL, Coca-Cola is offering programs that bring families together to enjoy moments of happinessfun. AMERICAN IDOL is the kickoff platform for the Coca-Cola Family Night program, which presents activitiesrecipes throughout JanuaryFebruary that encourage families to "make tonight a family night." They will also launch the new "Coca-Cola Music Cover Artwork" contest. Fans can develop their own special music cover graphics at they could win a trip to attend the live AMERICAN IDOL finale. Coming back for a second year is the popular Perfect Harmony program that provides teens young adults the opportunity to write a song with an award winning artist. This innovative collaboration will culminate in an incredible performance on the biggest stage in Hollywood during an AMERICAN IDOL broadcast. In addition, Coca-Cola will share exclusive behind-the-scenes content online at , providing fans with an inside look at the contestant experience. Other activities designed to enhance the AMERICAN IDOL experience will be featured in a variety of retail outlets across the country.

AT&T returns this year to celebrate its 10th anniversary as the official wireless sponsor of AMERICAN IDOL. Once again, AT&T makes voting easiermore convenient for its customers through exclusive unlimited text-voting during the voting window after each show.* Additionally, AT&T customers will benefit from unique access to their favorite IDOL moments through popular mobile phone content, including Vote Number Reminder, Social Sharing of VotesIdol Trivia.* (*Messaging and/or data rates apply.)

AMERICAN IDOL is produced by 19 Entertainment, a division of CKX, Inc.FremantleMedia North America, Inc. The series is created executive-produced by Simon Fuller, CEO, XIX Entertainment,executive-produced by Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO, FremantleMedia North America, Inc.; Ken Warwick, Executive Producer, FremantleMedia North America, Inc.;Nigel Lythgoe, CEO, Nigel Lythgoe Productions. AMERICAN IDOL has been No. 1 among Adults 18-49 for the past eight consecutive seasons.

About FremantleMedia North America
FremantleMedia North America (FMNA) is the U.S. production division of global media giant FremantleMedia. Based in Burbank, California, FMNA produces entertaining innovative programs for network, cable, syndicatedonline platforms, including the Emmy-nominated musical/reality phenomenon "American Idol" (FOX), "The X Factor" (FOX), "America's Got Talent" (NBC), "Family Feud" (syndicated), "The Price Is Right" (CBS), "Let's Make A Deal" (CBS),  "Hole In The Wall" (Cartoon Network), "Total Blackout (premieres 2012)the company's first scripted series "The Wedding Band" (premieres 2012).

About FremantleMedia Enterprises & FremantleMedia
FremantleMedia is one of the leading creators producers of entertainment brands in the world. FremantleMedia is part of the RTL Group, Europe's largest televisionradio broadcast company, which is in turn 90 percent owned by Bertelsmann AG, one of the world's major media entertainment companies. FremantleMedia's worldwide production arm is responsible for many of the world's highest rated prime time entertainment, drama, serial dramafactual entertainment programs. FremantleMedia Enterprises is the brand extension arm of FremantleMedia, offering a one-stop-shop for all licensing, distributionhome entertainment around the world. The FremantleMedia Group (which includes FremantleMedia North America, UFA, talkbackTHAMES, FremantleMedia AustraliaOriginal 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 formatsmanaging over 300 individual titles. FremantleMedia has some of the world's most sought-afterlong-running formats in its catalogue,globally, produces such programs as: "Idols" (co-produced with 19 Entertainment in the U.S.), "Hole In The Wall," "Got Talent" (co-produced with Syco in the U.K.the U.S.), "The X Factor" (co-produced with Syco in the U.K.U.S.), "Take Me Out," "Family Feud," "The Price is Right," "Farmer Wants A Wife," "Gute Zeiten Schlechte Zeiten""Neighbours."

About CKX, Inc.
CKX, Inc. is engaged in the ownership, developmentcommercial utilization of globally recognized entertainment content. The company's current properties include the rights to the name, image likeness of Elvis PresleyMuhammad Ali, the operations of Graceland, proprietary rights to the "Idols""So You Think You Can Dance" television brands, including the American Idol series in the United Stateslocal adaptations of the "Idols" and "So You Think You Can Dance" television show formats which, collectively, air in more than 100 countries. For more information about CKX, Inc., visit its corporate website at .

About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, MI, manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 166,000 employees about 70 plants worldwide, the company's automotive brands include Ford Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company.  For more information regarding Fordits products worldwide, please visit .

About The Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world's largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling still brands. Led by Coca-Cola, the world's most valuable brand, our company's portfolio features 15 billion dollar brands including Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply, GeorgiaDel Valle. Globally, we are the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, ready-to-drink coffees,juicesjuice drinks. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy our beverages at a rate of 1.7 billion servings a day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our company is focused on initiatives that reduce our environmental footprint, support active, healthy living, create a safe, inclusive work environment for our associates,enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate. Together with our bottling partners, we rank among the world's top 10 private employers with more than 700,000 system employees. For more information, please visit .

About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding companyone of the most honored companies in the world (). Its subsidiaries affiliates - AT&T operating companies - are the providers of AT&T services in the United Statesaround the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation's fastest mobile broadband network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice cloud-based services. A leader in mobile broadbandemerging 4G capabilities, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide of any U.S. carrier, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse(r)AT&T |DIRECTV brands. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T Advertising SolutionsAT&T Interactive are known for their leadership in local searchadvertising.

Additional information about AT&T Inc. the productsservices provided by AT&T subsidiariesaffiliates is available at . This news releaseother announcements are available at as part of an RSS feed at .

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Contact:

Alex Gillespie / FOX                           Jill Hudson / FOX                    Jennifer Reed/ FOX
310-369-5712                                      310-369-2953                          310-369-5650
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Marissa Bradley / Ford Motor Company                                            Will Davis / AT&T
313-845-3156                                                                                      404-986-0268
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Kerry Tressler / Coca-Cola North America                                       
404-676-3676                                                                         
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