MCLEAN, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--TEGNA Inc. (NYSE: TGNA) today announced “Sing Like a Star,” a new, interactive, weekly cross-platform singing competition, will premiere on Saturday, September 16, 2017. “Sing Like a Star” will produced out of WWL, TEGNA’s station in New Orleans, and air in 33 TEGNA communities. The show is hosted by New Orleans native Arthel Neville, a television journalist and daughter of music legend Art Neville.
New, original programs like “Sing Like a Star” are a component of the company’s content transformation strategy. “Sing Like a Star” will be TEGNA’s third original program to launch this fall. “Daily Blast LIVE” and “Sister Circle” will both debut on September 11. The company’s content strategy also includes initiatives to reinvent and strengthen local journalism through the creation of digital-first news content, award-winning investigative reports and projects like VERIFY, which provides unbiased fact checking.
“Sing Like a Star” will engage with audiences of all ages and backgrounds by giving undiscovered and talented singers a shot at fame. To appear on the show, amateur singers will post an audition through the StarMaker app. Singers with the most online votes will be invited to New Orleans and appear on the show. Each episode will feature three contestants singing for 60 seconds in front of Arthel Neville and a panel of judges who will give them a score. Two contestants will advance to the final round where they will sing for 75 seconds. The singer with the highest score will be the weekly winner. The top scoring weekly winners will be eligible to return for the finals where one talented contestant will be selected to record their own debut album and perform at an upcoming New Orleans music festival.
“What makes ‘Sing Like a Star’ unique is its simplicity. If you think you have what it takes, simply upload a video, encourage your social followers to vote for your audition and with enough votes, you’ll be on the show,” said Bob Sullivan, senior vice president, programming, TEGNA. “‘Sing Like a Star’ will be fun and interactive and give aspiring, talented singers across the country a shot at being discovered.”
“Sing Like a Star” will be co-produced by TEGNA and Quark Entertainment, an award-winning production company based in New Orleans. The show’s interactive format will offer unique sponsorship and integration opportunities within each episode and on the “Sing Like a Star” app and website.
"We appreciate working with TEGNA because they are forward-thinking and understand what it takes to create entertaining and engaging television for viewers and high-value integration opportunities for sponsors," said Ted Eccles, President of Quark Entertainment.
“Sing Like a Star” will be hosted by Arthel Neville, daughter of music legend Art Neville and a New Orleans native. Early in her broadcasting career, Neville worked at TEGNA’s WWL station and KHOU in Houston. She’s hosted “Extreme Close-Up” for E! Entertainment, co-hosted the Miss Teen USA Pageant and the Miss Universe Pageant and was an original host of the syndicated show “Extra”. Neville has hosted her own signature show on CNN “Talk Back Live with Arthel Neville” and is currently a weekend anchor on Fox News Channel.
"I'm thrilled to be part of a show that will help make people's dreams come true as well as shine a spotlight on my hometown," said Neville.
About TEGNA
TEGNA Inc. (NYSE: TGNA) is an innovative media company that serves the greater good of our communities. With 46 television stations in 38 markets, TEGNA delivers relevant content and information to consumers across platforms. It is the largest owner of top 4 affiliates in the top 25 markets, reaching approximately one-third of all television households nationwide. Each month, TEGNA reaches 50 million adults on-air and 32 million across its digital platforms. TEGNA has been consistently honored with the industry’s top awards, including Edward R. Murrow, George Polk, Alfred I. DuPont and Emmy Awards. TEGNA delivers results for advertisers through unparalleled and innovative solutions including OTT local advertising network Premion, centralized marketing resource Hatch, and G/O Digital, a one-stop shop for local businesses to connect with consumers through digital marketing. Across platforms, TEGNA tells empowering stories, conducts impactful investigations and delivers innovative marketing solutions. For more information, visit www.TEGNA.com.
