Power dialers/texters, I think you have some competition now.
According to Access Atlanta, American Idol executive producer Nigel Lythgoe has indicated that the reality juggernaut will be introducing online voting to the show this season, the show’s 10th. In what capacity and with what limitations we’re not sure, but Lythgoe has said that there will be no limits added to phone voting and text voting.
I think online voting will be a positive thing for the show and it may allow for another voice in trying to determine the recipient of the show's title and promotional muscle. Considering how tech savvy today’s teenagers are, the 12-17 age group often had more weight than the rest of the viewing audience, which has resulted in some underwhelming results for the past few seasons and softening record sales. Idol hasn’t produced a superstar in several seasons (one could argue they've only produced two in Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood with several very, very successful artists right under them), so change is necessary at this point. I only wish they had put a limit on phone and text voting; I understand why they didn’t, as touting a “record number of votes” is now a regular part of every finale and gives the show good PR, but it’s so easy to game the system that it’s a little discouraging for a single person who wants to vote once or twice. I mean, if someone can sit there and potentially vote thousands of times in the voting period, why should I waste my time voting? If there's more balance in the voting, maybe this season's champion will reverse the show's recent bad luck in producing stars.
Idol fans, what do you think of online voting? Will it be as controversial as phone/text voting? What will be your preferred method of voting once we hit the top 12? What limitations should the powers that be put on online voting?
