Charter Urges Bands Out of the Garage and Onto Center Stage in Online Battle of the Bands

ST. LOUIS, Aug. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Have you heard a band you think could open for the MTV Music Award winning, Grammy nominated Panic! At the Disco – a hometown band with stage presence and talent that could perform before thousands?

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110526/AQ10195LOGO)

One band will have the opportunity to take Charter Center Stage in a virtual battle of the bands that could propel its members onstage in front of thousands. The winning band will open a fall concert for the multi-platinum-selling and critically acclaimed headliner, Panic! At the Disco, along with other national acts. This major outdoor concert event will be held at Willow Island at Alliant Energy Center in Madison, WI, and will be webcast live on Facebook®.

The Grand Prize band also wins a prize package valued at nearly $25,000, which includes a trip to the concert venue in October with rock star, VIP treatment and a musical equipment allowance.  

"Charter is an enthusiastic proponent of digital music, and Charter Center Stage is a way to encourage the growth of new musical composition, cutting edge and online," said Robert Ladd, Charter Vice President, National Sales. "It's a thrill for us to give talented bands an opportunity to be discovered."

Charter is extending multimedia invitations to bands online, through social media and on campuses across the country in Charter's service areas, to upload a video at Charter.com/Concert or Facebook.com/Chartercom.

Music videos must feature an original song written by one or more of the band's members. Contest rules, voting information and other details can be found at Charter.com/Concert or at Facebook.com/Chartercom. Entries will be accepted until 12:00 p.m. (CDT) on August 24.

This fan-driven, online battle-of-the-bands competition takes place in two battle rounds of voting for fans' favorite videos. The winner advances to the live, outdoor Charter Center Stage at the beautiful Willow Island concert venue in Madison, WI, a 29-acre naturally green area including two ponds encircling a nearly seven-acre isthmus.

Charter rewards fans who vote for their favorite band by giving away a host of prizes in a colorful consumer sweepstakes. Every voter with a Charter serviceable address is entered into the sweepstakes for a chance to win prizes that include a trip to the concert, tablet computers, HDTVs and game consoles. Voters are also eligible to win a FREE year of Charter services, including Charter Internet®, which delivers a fast, reliable online experience to consumers on multiple devices, as well as TV and phone service. Music enthusiasts can register to vote to select finalists at Charter.com/Concert until September 3. Voters with an address in a Charter service area are automatically entered into the sweepstakes.

Dates to Remember for Charter Center Stage Battle of the Bands

August 24: Deadline for bands to submit video.
August 11 - September 3: First round of voting.
September 4: Eleven finalists selected and contacted.
September 18 - September 25: Final voting period. Vote again to choose the winner.
September 26: The Grand Prize winner will be contacted. The 10 remaining finalists each receive a gift card valued at $2,500.
October 15: Charter Center Stage Concert at Willow Island in Madison, WI. Concert will also be streamed LIVE online via Facebook.

* No purchase is necessary to enter the contest or the sweepstakes. See Charter.com/Concert for full contest and sweepstakes rules and entry details. Void where prohibited. Sponsored by Charter Communications, Inc. Contest: The entry period for the "Battle of the Bands" contest began at 12:00 p.m. CDT on 7/15/2011 and ends at 12:00 p.m. CDT on 8/24/2011. Voting on contest entries began at 12:00 p.m. CDT on 8/11/2011 and continues through 12:00 p.m. CDT on 9/25/2011. Contest is open to musical groups whose members are all 18 years of age or older and legal residents of one of the United States or D.C. Sweepstakes: The Sweepstakes began at 12:00 p.m. CDT on 7/15/2011 and ends at 12:00 p.m. CDT on 9/25/2011. Entries for the Grand Prize drawing will be accepted only through 12:00 p.m. CDT on 9/3/2011. To be eligible for the Grand Prize drawing, you must submit an entry by no later than 12:00 p.m. CDT on 9/3/2011. Entries for the First Prize and Second Prize drawings will be accepted through 12:00 p.m. CDT on 9/25/2011. The sweepstakes is open only to legal residents of one of the United States or D.C. (excluding Florida, New York and Rhode Island) who are at least 18 years old and live within a Charter serviceable area, as determined by Charter.

About Charter

Charter (NASDAQ: CHTR) is a leading broadband communications company and the fourth-largest cable operator in the United States. Charter provides a full range of advanced broadband services, including advanced Charter TV® video entertainment programming, Charter Internet® access, and Charter Phone®. Charter Business® similarly provides scalable, tailored, and cost-effective broadband communications solutions to business organizations, such as business-to-business Internet access, data networking, business telephone, video and music entertainment services, and wireless backhaul. Charter's advertising sales and production services are sold under the Charter Media® brand. More information about Charter can be found at charter.com.

SOURCE Charter