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ITV commissions live-voted singing show, Rising Star
By Aly Barchi | Published on Friday 29 November 2013
ITV has acquired an ‘X-Factor’-style rival in ‘Rising Star’, a cut-throat singing franchise that’s been a massive hit in its native Israel.
The series’ interactive premise, devised by Israeli media firm Keshet International – which will co-produce the UK version – is that viewers can cast their votes in real-time via a special app integrated into the show. Auditions are termed “screen tests” and, if contestants win 70% approval from those watching – and from four judges, who only have a minority vote – they’ll move on to the next round.
In short, it’s going to be horrific.
Playing devil’s advocate, ITV’s Entertainment & Comedy Director Elaine Bedell says: “It’s rare that you find a genuinely innovative new entertainment format – but Keshet have come up with one and I’m very pleased that it will now be on ITV. The bold real-time voting element means that viewers’ votes control every twist and turn of the live programme – and that makes for an incredibly dramatic, emotional and exciting show”.
