World Vision: An American Anthem

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This article is about the American television program. For the charitable organization, see World Vision. For the media company, see WorldVision.

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World Vision: An American Anthem is a televised talent contest now in development. NBC claim it is based on the Eurovision Song Contest, the most widely watched program of its kind in the world.

NBC has bought the rights to the show from the European Broadcasting Union. On this version, American states would send representatives to perform, rather than countries. The format would otherwise be identical to the original show. No date has been set for the premiere of this program.

Some TV critics are questioning NBC's motives in buying the program, dismissing it as an attempt to counter the success of American Idol. There are some important differences. For one thing, the Eurovision Song Contest is 50 years old as of 2006, making it much older than American Idol, and for that matter, perhaps older than all of the people connected to it. Also, in the Eurovision contest, viewers cannot vote for performers from their own country. Whether such a similar rule would be practical in the U.S., where Idol viewers are encouraged to vote en masse for their favorite artist by telephone, remains to be seen. Finally, the Eurovision Song Contest is a song competition, whereas American Idol focuses primarily on promoting artists. It is likely that World Vision: An American Anthem will also concentrate its primary focus on competition between musicians and composers from different states, rather than songs.

Also to be decided are how the contestants are to be selected (whether by organized contests, like Sweden's popular Melodifestivalen, or through open auditions in each state), and whether or not contestants who have current recording contracts will be allowed to compete.

In addition, NBC faces a lawsuit from television creator Maurice Fraser, who claims that he had an idea similar to World Vision in 2004 called Battle of the States. Fraser is seeking production involvement and financial compensation. NBC has acknowledged meeting with Fraser to hear his pitch. which included setting aside a large sum of money for blind,deaf and dumb children, but denies stealing the idea from him.

Source: Forbes magazine, June 27, 2006 issue