By Teino Evans, Staff Reporter
Sutherland
THE TELEVISED talent search, Rising Stars, will begin airing on TVJ this weekend, with an introductory show scheduled for this evening at 9 p.m. The first contestant's
programme, featuring the Ocho Rios and Port Antonio top 10 entrants, will air at 8 p.m. on Sunday, May 23.
That first contestant's show, which will be repeated on TVJ on Tuesday at 6 p.m. and on Wednesday at 9 a.m., will give highlights of the auditions held in Ocho Rios and Port Antonio during mid-April, as well as feature the 10 finalists who were selected by celebrity judges AJ Brown, Nadine Sutherland and Anthony Miller. Hosted by actress Denise Hunt, the Rising Stars televised series will also present exclusive behind-the-scenes interviews and news, as well as footage of local attractions and a taste of community life in each of the locations visited around the island.
VOTE
The public is invited to vote, starting Sunday night, by texting from a Digicel mobile or calling from any mobile or landline phone. Each text message will cost $15 per vote and each call will cost $25 per vote. A different phone number will be allocated to each contestant on the night of each show. Voting lines are open from 8 p.m. every Sunday until 6 p.m. the following Friday. A results show will then be broadcasted each Friday at 9 p.m., revealing the two contestants from each regional show who will move forward to the final rounds.
David Hall, CEO of Digicel, the show's title sponsors, says his company is ready for the heavy public voting which is expected once the lines open at 8 p.m. this Sunday. "The Jamaican public now have the power to choose who will be Jamaica's first Rising Star and, as the saying goes, 'vote early and vote often' to ensure your favourite contestant gets a place in the finals," he said
The public's votes will
determine all further eliminations of contestants in Rising Stars
and ultimately the winner
of the series who will be
awarded an international
management/recording contract
during the live grand finale
on August 12.
