| When most people think about 900 numbers for | | | | number in conjunction with a television audience |
| television, they usually think about those ads with | | | | participation event. If the December ABC's Wide |
| girls in hot tubs that have been seen on American | | | | World of Sports is any indication, television viewers |
| television since 1987. This is true despite the fact | | | | still like the ease of participating via a 900 number. |
| that AT&T and MCI have not allowed adult | | | | ABC's Marshall's Figure Skating Challenge allowed |
| entertainment on 900 numbers for many years. | | | | viewers a chance to vote for the best male and |
| The fact is it was television that actually made 900 | | | | female figure skater during the two hour show. |
| numbers a reality in the first place. 900 numbers | | | | Viewers were permitted to vote for free online or |
| were first used on television when ABC wanted a | | | | pay 75 cents to vote via a 900 number or via text |
| way to gauge public opinion of who won the 1980 | | | | message. |
| presidential debate between President Jimmy Carter | | | | Viewers cast over 105,000 votes during the event. |
| and then Governor Ronald Reagan. Viewers chose | | | | The free online version garnered the most votes, but |
| the Californian and both a new presidency and a new | | | | only slightly ahead of the 900 number. Text |
| technology were launched. | | | | messaging was a distant third. |
| Years later, those zanies from Saturday Night Live | | | | "We were surprised the 900 number did so well, |
| got in the television 900 number act as well. Host | | | | quite frankly," said Brad Bierman, of Advanced |
| Eddie Murphy polled the viewing audience on whether | | | | Telecom Services--the service bureau that handled |
| to boil Larry the Lobster or spare its life. The | | | | the 900 number voting application. "It shows |
| sympathetic viewers chose to spare the crustacean, | | | | television audiences still like the convenience of |
| but Murphy boiled Larry anyway. | | | | participating by 900 numbers. The amazing thing is |
| Today, interactive text messaging is the newest | | | | that the 900 number got almost as many votes as |
| rage for polling television audiences. It's quick, easy, | | | | the free online voting did." |
| and the viewer doesn't even have to get up from | | | | Clearly, the successful use of the 900 number in the |
| the couch to dial like in the 900 number days. | | | | figure skating challenge emphasizes that 900 numbers |
| Moreover, text messaging can be either standard | | | | still have a place in television broadcasts. It makes |
| rate (free to the television viewer) or premium rate | | | | one wonder why television doesn't use 900 numbers |
| (where the viewer pays a fee to participate). Hence, | | | | more often. |
| text messaging can be become a new profit center | | | | Maybe it's those girls in hot tubs that still linger in the |
| for the television station. | | | | minds of television executives. |
| But, clearly there's still a place for the use of a 900 | | | | |