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Posted by Kevan Breitinger Jan 22, 2007 |
January 26th will present to an estimated potential audience of more than 95 million viewers the launch of Gifted --the much heralded 2 hour prime time TBN television special that culminates months of nationwide searching to find and present the brightest new talent in Christian music. Those tuning in that evening will share the excitement of “reality based TV” with the nationwide viewing audience witnessing one contestant being awarded the top prize of a major recording contract with the EMI Christian Music Group.
Once aired on the 26th Gifted is set to rapidly become a total music franchise. The television special will be followed by a February 20th release of Gifted, Season One, on CD/DVD from EMI/Sparrow Records. In addition to the CD featuring performances by the eight top finalists on the telecast, the companion three hour DVD will contain the entire two hour televised special with bonus behind the scenes, 'all access' content.
Hosted and featuring performances by Brian Littrell, member of the multi-platinum selling pop group Backstreet Boys, and now also recognized in his own right as a successful solo artist in the Christian music genre’, judges chosen to sit on the panel for the competition include: Michael Sweet, lead singer of legendary Christian rock band Stryper, Eddie DeGarmo, founding member of multi-award winning Christian duo DeGarmo & Key and now president of EMI CMG Publishing, and multi-Grammy and Dove Award winning artist, Andrae Crouch.
For the debut telecast itself the field of more than 16,000 contestants will be already narrowed for viewers to the eight top finalists, whose performances range from praise & worship, gospel and contemporary Christian music's top hits of today .
Throughout January leading up to the premier, TBN has broadcast four 30 minute prime time network specials setting the stage for Gifted and introducing the contestants to viewers. Nightly 5 minute updates have also been telecast with behind the scene glimpses of the production, the contestants, and the reminder to watch the January 26th premier. After initial airing, the special will repeat on TBN through the February 20th release of the DVD/CD.
National auditions for the Gifted talent competition were held over a year long period in churches situation in major markets throughout the United States. Unique to the competition was the emphasis to create a nationwide talent search for Christian solo artists with a desire to display the gifts that God gave them and to give back that gift by sharing with the world through their music the message of hope in Christ.
The Gifted website launches in tandem with the program's airing on 1/26.