“Ultimate KTV” has new format, bigger prize
You’ve seen the advertisements, but tonight in a bit of shameless self-promotion we’ll offer more detailed reasons why the 2007 version of Karaoke Television is must see TV.
Mary Rhaburn Mangar, Producer
“This year it’s not just KTV, it’s called Ultimate KTV.”
Kendra Griffith, Reporting
And the new name is the least of the changes that will be made to the sixth season of Karaoke Television. For starters, although there will be three permanent judges, the power to select winners has been taken out their hands and will be given to the public.
Mary Rhaburn Mangar
“These judges will be making comments to the contestants about their performance, what they think of it. They are going to be critiquing and advising and just giving their views. They won’t be voting though like they have done in previous years. The votes this year will be coming through text messages. Viewers will have the ability at their fingertips to vote for which contestant they think should win each week.”
“After your performance, you’re going to be given the number to call and the number to text to vote for your contestant and it’s going be open until the following Sunday before the next show and at the beginning of every show the winner will be announced.”
Sixteen of those contestants will be chosen from two countrywide auditions to be held on June thirtieth and July seventh at the Bliss, but another set of participants will consist of past KTV winners and finalists who were previously barred from re-entering the competition.
Mary Rhaburn Mangar
“Most of our people from the past have confirmed that they will be coming on. People will go to the auditions and we will be selecting more than the sixteen at that time because what happens, after the auditions we are going to be having an audition show live also. There, the judges will vote in that only show as to who they think the sixteen will be to go on and compete.”
And after weeks of competition, what does the winner of Ultimate KTV get to take home?
Mary Rhaburn Mangar
“The prize for the winner this year, our grand champion is going to be ten thousand dollars cash.”
William Neal, Host
“I think that’s the kind of seriousness that you need to have, people being rewarded at that level for them to really flourish, to push themselves and to realise this is not a fly by night thing. Ten thousand dollars cash is a lot of money. Hey, I could use it.”
The venue for the show continues to be the Bliss, although it has been moved indoors to the air-conditioned auditorium … but one thing that hasn’t changed is its host.
William Neal
“It’s actually great to be back.”
For the fifth time, William Neal will return to his popular role as emcee and says he’s excited about the changes.
William Neal
“It’s an air conditioned building, the theatre is really nice, I think people will step up their game a lot. You have now the lighting, different things you can do in the background, and I think it’s an opportunity for you to come out on a Tuesday night and really participate in something. If you’ve never been to it before, this is perhaps the best reason for you to come out.”
Mary Rhaburn Mangar
“Just planning it, I’m very excited about it. I can’t wait to see what’s going to happen.”
William Neal
“People just need to understand that this is the only way we will grow. We can’t live up to American Idol or any of the other standards if we don’t start somewhere and this is our start, so we’re on our way. Make sure you’re there.”
Ultimate KTV air on Tuesday nights right here on Channel 5 from July tenth through October sixteenth. Kendra Griffith reporting for News Five.
Sponsors for Ultimate KTV are Belize Telemedia Limited and Benny’s Home Centre. Those three judges by the way, have been selected and will be on hand for the auditions.
