New Haven Tree Lighting Choral Contest
NBC Connecticut and Telemundo Connecticut are proud to once again be the official television sponsor of the New Haven Holiday Tree Lighting and the winter festivities on the historic New Haven Green.
As part of the NBC Connecticut Tree Lighting special broadcast on Dec. 5 live from the New Haven Green, we are looking for a childrens' school or youth chorus to perform at least two songs on the show.
To enter the contest:
- The chorus must sing one of the following three songs in an audition video: Jingle Bells, O' Christmas Tree, or Joy to the World. Any other songs will cause the video to not be considered.
- All people under the age of 18 appearing in the submission video, must have a waiver signed by a legal parent or guardian for the chorus to be considered. Students without a waiver should not appear in the video. Download the required waiver here.
- Click the contest link here to submit a video by 6:00 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 11.
- A panel of judges at NBC Connecticut will select up to five finalists.
- The videos of the finalists will be posted on nbcconnecticut.com with the public being able to vote or a winner starting Nov. 14.
- Winning chorus will be announced Nov. 26.
Local
New Haven Tree Lighting Choral Contest
Official Rules
October 22, 2019 — November 25, 2019
PRELIMINARY INFORMATION: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. A purchase will not improve your chances of winning. Void outside Connecticut and where prohibited. The New Haven Tree Lighting Choral Contest (“Contest”) will begin on October 22, 2019 at 12:00 P.M. ET and end on November 25, 2019 at 5:30 P.M. ET (“Contest Period”). Entries must be submitted by November 11, 2019 at 6:00 P.M. ET. All times in the Contest refer to Eastern Time (“ET”). Odds of winning depend upon the number of eligible Entries (as defined below) received. Contest is subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws. PRIZES (DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT INCLUDE ACCOMMODATIONS, PARKING, OR TRANSPORTATION.
ELIGIBILITY: Open only to permanent, legal United States residents who are physically residing in Connecticut, and who are eighteen (18) years of age or older as of the start of the Contest Period. Entry (as defined below) may be submitted by an individual or by a choir or chorus of twenty (20) or fewer members (“Choir”). Each member of a Choir (“Choir Members”, each a “Choir Member”) must comply with the eligibility requirements outlined herein for the Entry to be eligible. Officers, directors, and employees of Contest Entities (as defined below), members of these persons’ immediate families (spouses and/or parents, children, and siblings, and each of their respective spouses, regardless of where they reside), and/or persons living in the same households as these persons (whether or not related thereto) are not eligible to enter or win the Contest. Contest Entities, as referenced herein, shall include WVIT, 1422 New Britain Ave., West Hartford, CT 06110, NBCUniversal Media, LLC, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112 (collectively, “Sponsors”), and each of their respective parent, subsidiary, and affiliate companies, and each of their respective administrative, advertising, and promotion agencies, and any other entity involved in the development, administration, promotion, or implementation of the Contest. Winners (defined below) and Winning Choirs (defined below) must be available to attend Event (defined below) on December 5, 2019 (or such other date as determined by Sponsors in their sole discretion), or Prize (defined below) will be forfeited.
HOW TO ENTER: As part of your Entry (defined below), you will be required to submit an original video (“Video”) on the following theme: “Showcase your chorus or choir’s vocal talent and personality through singing one of the following songs: ‘Jingle Bells,’ ‘Oh Christmas Tree,’ or ‘Joy to the World’” (“Theme”). You may submit the Video according to the provided instructions on the Contest Website (defined below) or Facebook Page (defined below). Video must have been taken by you, you must have the permission of any person who appears or is identified in the Video, and it must be in English. If any minors appear in a Video, the entrant must have signed waivers (provided below) from each such minor’s parent or legal guardian. Professional Videos with watermarks are not eligible. Video must be in one (1) of the following electronic formats: MPEG (.mpg), QuickTime (.mov), AVI (.avi), Windows Media (.wmv), Flash Video (.flv), and Real Media (.rm). Video must not exceed two hundred (200) MB and/or be longer than three (3) minutes in length. If Video exceeds three (3) minutes in length, only the first three (3) minutes will be judged.
If any minors appear in a Video, the entrant must have signed waivers from each such minor’s parent or legal guardian before the Video can be considered. Waivers can be downloaded here.
You may enter the Contest in one (1) of the following two (2) ways:
1. Website Entry: To enter the contest, during the Contest Period, visit the NBC Connecticut Contest page located at https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/on-air/contests/ (the “Contest Website”), click the Contest icon or link, and follow the provided instructions to complete and thereafter submit the entry form, which includes the Choir name, Choir hometown, entrant’s phone number, entrant’s email address, and Video (“Website Entry”).
2. Facebook Page Entry: To enter the contest, during the Contest Period, visit the NBC Connecticut Facebook page located at https://www.facebook.com/NBCConnecticut (“Facebook Page”), access the “Contests/Sweepstakes” tab, and follow the provided instructions to complete and thereafter submit the entry form, which includes the Choir name, Choir hometown, entrant’s phone number, entrant’s email address, and Video (“Facebook Entry”). A Facebook account is required to enter the Contest via Facebook. If you do not already have a Facebook account, you can go to https://www.facebook.com/ to create a free Facebook account.
Website Entry and Facebook Entry may collectively be referred to herein as “Entry” or “Entries.”
If you choose to submit your Entry via your web-enabled mobile device, data rates may apply. See your wireless service provider for details on rates and capabilities. All Entries become the property of Sponsors and will not be acknowledged or returned.
Sponsors may choose to broadcast on-air and/or display online at https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/on-air/contests/ (the “Website”) and/or Sponsors’ social media pages and digital platforms, a selection of Videos, in whole or in part, as determined by Sponsors in their sole discretion. By entering the Contest, each entrant agrees to the posting of such entrant’s name and Video on the Website, on-air, and/or on Sponsors’ social media pages, including but not limited to Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
You must submit the Video as part of your Entry to enter and be eligible for the Contest. By entering the Contest, entrants grant Sponsors the non-exclusive, royalty-free, and irrevocable rights to use, reproduce, copy, publish, display, distribute, perform, translate, adapt, modify, and otherwise exploit the Video and to incorporate the Video in other works in any and all markets and media worldwide in perpetuity. Entrants warrant that they have the sole and exclusive right to grant such rights to Sponsors and that the Sponsors’ reproduction, publishing, displaying, and/or other use of the Video will not infringe on any rights of third parties, including, without limitation, copyright, trademark, privacy, or publicity, or create claims for defamation, false light, idea misappropriation, intentional or negligent infliction of emotional distress, or breach of contract. If any Video contains material that is violent, pornographic, obscene, illegal, inappropriate, or racially or morally offensive or if any Video does not comply with these Official Rules or meet Sponsors’ standards for any reason, as determined by Sponsors in their sole discretion, such Video (and the related Entry) may be rejected as ineligible for consideration. Entries must comply with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations. Sponsors shall have no obligation to copy, publish, display, or otherwise exploit the Video.
Limit one (1) Entry per Choir during the Contest Period. Multiple Entries received from any person beyond this limit will void all such additional Entries. Entries must be received before November 11, 2019 at 6:00 P.M. ET to be eligible for the Contest. Sponsors’ computer shall be the official timekeeper for all matters related to this Contest. Entries that are incomplete, garbled, corrupted, or unintelligible for any reason, including, but not limited to, computer or network malfunction or congestion, are void and will not be accepted. In case of a dispute over the identity of an entrant, the authorized account holder (or registered subscriber) of the Facebook account or email address used to enter will be deemed to be the entrant. “Authorized account holder” of a Facebook account is defined as the person who is assigned to a Facebook account by Facebook. “Authorized account holder” of an email address is defined as the person who is assigned to an email address by an Internet access provider, online service provider or other organization that is responsible for assigning email addresses for the domain associated with the submitted email address. Entry constitutes permission (except where prohibited by law) to use entrant’s name, city, state, likeness, image, and/or voice for purposes of advertising, promotion, and publicity in any and all media now or hereafter known, throughout the world in perpetuity, without additional compensation, notification, permission, or approval.
PRIVACY: Entrants will have the opportunity to receive information from Sponsors and selected partners by checking the appropriate box(es). If, at any time, you no longer wish to receive materials from the Sponsors or our partners, please go to our privacy policy, located at http://www.nbcuniversal.com/privacy, or the applicable partner’s privacy policy and follow the procedures indicated.
SELECTION AND NOTIFICATION OF FINALISTS AND WINNERS: There will be two (2) rounds of judging: Round 1: Initial Judging to Determine the Finalists; Round 2: Public Voting and Final Judging to Determine Winners.
Round 1: Initial Judging to Determine the Finalists: On or about November 12, 2019, one (1) or more qualified judges selected by Sponsors (“Judges,” each a “Judge”) will review all eligible Entries received during the Contest Period and select up to up to five (5) finalists (“Finalists,” each a “Finalist”) based on the following judging criteria (“Judging Criteria”): Quality of Sound and Singing (33.33%), Tone and Style (33.33%), and Overall Excellence to Theme (33.33%). Each Finalist will advance to Round 2: Public Voting and Final Judging to Determine Winners, subject to verification of eligibility. The selection and review process may occur on a rolling basis as Entries are received. In the event of a tie, the Judges will break the tie by selecting the tied Entry that received the highest points from the Judges for Overall Excellence to Theme to advance to Round 2: Public Voting and Final Judging to Determine Winners. In the event a tie remains, an additional tie-breaking Judge will judge the tied Entries, using the Judging Criteria, to determine which of the tied Entries will advance to Round 2: Public Voting and Final Judging to Determine Winners. Sponsors reserve the right to pick fewer than five (5) Finalists (or none at all) or to extend the Contest Period if the Contest does not receive a sufficient number of eligible and qualified Entries, as determined by Sponsors in their sole discretion.
Round 2: Public Voting and Final Judging to Determine Winners: Beginning on or about November 14, 2019, the Finalists’ Entries will be posted on the Website (or such other website as determined by Sponsors in their sole discretion) in a randomized manner for public viewing and voting. On or about November 14, 2019 at 11:00 A.M. ET until November 25, 2019 at 5:30 P.M. ET, or on such other dates and at such other times as determined by the Sponsors in their sole discretion (the “Voting Period”), visitors to the Website may vote for their favorite Finalist according to the Judging Criteria, voting rules, and procedures established by Sponsors, which will be posted on the Website. Finalists will be judged based on the following: 40% public voting and 60% based on Judging Criteria from the Judges, and the Finalist with the highest score, as determined by Sponsors in their sole discretion, will be the first place winner (“First Place Winner”), subject to verification of eligibility and compliance with these Official Rules. The Finalists with the second- and third-highest scores, as determined by Sponsors in their sole discretion, will be the second place winners (“Second Place Winners”), subject to verification of eligibility and compliance with these Official Rules. First Place Winners and Second Place Winner may be collectively referred to herein as “Winner” or “Winners”. For sake of clarity, the Prizes (defined below) will be awarded to the Choirs and/or Choir Members featured in the Entries submitted by Winners and not the individuals who submitted the Entries. In the event of a tie, ties will be broken as described above with regards to determining Finalists. The Voting Period, voting rules and procedures and voting methods are subject to change, at the Sponsors’ sole discretion, and any changes will be posted on the Website. Voting is currently limited to one (1) vote per person/IP address during the Voting Period, but Sponsors reserve the right to change the limit on the number of votes, in its sole discretion. Notification regarding any such change will be announced on the Website.
Decisions of Sponsors and Judges are final and binding with respect to all matters related to the Contest. Winning is subject to verification of eligibility. Sponsors will make two (2) attempts to notify potential Winners at the phone numbers and/or email addresses submitted at the time of entry. Sponsors may share potential Winners’ names, Entries, and contact information with Contest Entities and/or any prize provider, as applicable, if necessary. Potential Winners will each be required to execute and return an affidavit of eligibility, release of liability, and, except where prohibited, publicity release (collectively, “Contest Documents”) within twenty-four (24) hours of such notification. Noncompliance within this time period will result in disqualification. If a potential Winner cannot be reached or is found ineligible, cannot or does not comply with the foregoing requirements and these Official Rules, if Prize (defined below) or prize notification is returned as undeliverable, or if it does not satisfactorily execute all of the Contest Documents, such potential Winner will be disqualified and Sponsors will award the Prize (defined below) to the runner-up Finalist, subject to verification of eligibility and compliance with these Official Rules.
PRIZE: There will be one (1) first prize (“First Prize”) awarded to First Place Winner. The First Prize will consist of the following: the opportunity for the Choir featured in the Entry submitted by the First Place Winner (the “First Place Choir”) to perform live at NBC Connecticut’s New Haven Tree Lighting Special scheduled to take place on December 5, 2019 from 6:00 – 7:30 P.M. ET at New Haven Green, located at 250 Temple Street, New Haven, CT 06511 (“Evening Event”).
There will be two (2) second place prizes (“Second Place Prizes”) awarded to Second Place Winners. The Second Place Prizes will consist of the following: the opportunity for the Choirs featured in the Entries submitted by the Second Place Winners (the “Second Place Choirs”) to perform on December 5, 2019 from 4:00 – 7:00 P.M. ET on the stage at New Haven Green, located at 250 Temple Street, New Haven, CT 06511 (the “Afternoon Event”).
First Place Prize and Second Place Prizes may collectively be referred to herein as “Prize” or “Prizes”. Afternoon Event and the Evening Event may collectively be referred to herein as the “Event” or “Events”. First Place Choir and Second Place Choirs may collectively be referred to herein as “Winning Choir” or “Winning Choirs”.
Prizes may be subject to certain terms and conditions as specified by issuer. Restrictions may apply. PRIZES DO NOT INCLUDE ACCOMMODATIONS, PARKING, OR TRANSPORTATION.
Estimated Retail Value (“ERV”) of Prize is zero dollars ($0). Actual Retail Value (“ARV”) of Prize may vary. Any difference between ERV and ARV will not be awarded.
All details of Prizes will be determined by Sponsors in their sole discretion. Sponsors reserve the right to substitute a Prize (or portion thereof) with a similar prize (or prize element) of comparable or greater value. All taxes and other expenses, costs, or fees associated with the acceptance and/or use of Prizes are the sole responsibility of Winners. Prizes cannot be transferred by Winners or redeemed for cash and are valid only for the items detailed above, with no substitution of Prizes by Winners. If a Prize is unclaimed within a reasonable time after notification from Sponsors, as determined by Sponsors in their sole discretion, it will be forfeited, and time permitting, an alternate Winner may be selected from the remaining eligible Entries at Sponsors’ sole discretion.
Winners and Winning Choirs must be available to attend Event on December 5, 2019 (or such other date determined by Sponsors in their sole discretion), or Prize will be forfeited. Sponsors shall have no responsibility or liability for cancellations, delays, or any other change by any company or person providing any element of Prize, and are not responsible or liable for any expenses incurred as a consequence thereof. Date and/or time of Event is subject to change. Event is subject to cancellation. Sponsors reserve the right to change the date and time of Event subject to production exigencies. For each of the Winning Choirs, no more than twenty (20) Choir Members may participate in the Events. If a Winning Choir chooses to attend the Event with fewer than twenty (20) Choir Members, the remaining elements of Prize shall constitute full satisfaction of Sponsors’ Prize obligation to Winner and no additional compensation will be awarded. As a condition of continued eligibility, Choir Members may each be required to execute and return releases of liability and, except where prohibited, publicity releases (collectively, “Choir Member Documents”), which must be returned with the Contest Documents, or Prize will be forfeited. If any Choir Member is a minor, Prize must be accepted by such Choir Member’s parent or legal guardian on the Choir Member’s behalf. A parent or legal guardian must accompany all Choir Members under the age of eighteen (18) and must execute Choir Member Documents on Choir Member’s behalf. ANY CHOIR MEMBER WHO DOES NOT EXECUTE AND RETURN HIS/HER CHOIR MEMBER DOCUMENTS WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE EVENT.
RECORDING: Sponsors, in their sole discretion, may choose to record and/or broadcast the Event and the appearance of Choir Members’ performing at the Event (“Appearance”) on NBC Connecticut, the Website, and/or Sponsors social media pages (“NBC Connecticut Platforms”). If Sponsors, in their sole discretion, elect to incorporate any such audio and/or video recordings (the “Recordings”) into the NBC Connecticut Platforms or other productions, the taping and/or the Recordings will not be considered an employment opportunity, and Choir Members will not be entitled to compensation or credit thereof. Sponsors will determine the nature of the Recordings in their sole discretion. If the Recordings are broadcast, such broadcast will be at a time, for a length of time, and on a date determined by Sponsors in their sole discretion. Choir Members (or their respective parent or legal guardian if a minor) may be required to return completed and signed appearance releases, confidentiality agreements and such other documents as may be required by Sponsors prior to their Appearance and participation in the segment or rehearsal, if any. Failure of Choir Members to complete and execute these documents in a timely manner, as determined by Sponsors in their sole discretion, may cause Appearance to be forfeited. The content of the Recording as, and if, finally exhibited and the number of exhibits and re-airs thereof, if any, will be determined by Sponsors in their sole discretion. Choir Members will not have a right of review, notice, or approval of the content of the Recordings or any exhibition or exploitation thereof. Sponsors have the right, in their sole discretion, to disqualify Winner, and cause Prize to be forfeited, and remove Winner and/or Choir Members from Event at any time, if any behavior of Winner and/or Choir Members is deemed by Sponsors to be disruptive or if it may or does cause damage to person, property, or reputation of Sponsors or if it otherwise violates the policies of Sponsors, or if Winner and/or Choir Members do not follow the directions of Sponsors at all times. These Official Rules and the Contest itself are neither a contract nor an application for employment.
CONDITIONS: By entering the Contest, each entrant agrees for entrant and for entrant’s heirs, executors, and administrators (a) to release and hold harmless Contest Entities, Facebook, and each of their respective officers, directors, and employees (collectively, “Released Parties”) from any liability, illness, injury, death, loss, litigation, or damage that may occur, directly or indirectly, whether caused by negligence or not, from such entrant’s participation in the Contest and/or his/her acceptance, possession, use, or misuse of Prize or any portion thereof (including any travel related thereto); (b) to indemnify Released Parties from any and all liability resulting or arising from the Contest and to hereby acknowledge that Released Parties have neither made nor are in any manner responsible or liable for any warranty, representation, or guarantee, express or implied, in fact or in law, relative to Prize, including express warranties provided exclusively by prize supplier that are sent along with Prize; (c) if selected as a Winner, to the posting of such entrant’s name on Website and the use by Released Parties of such name, voice, image, and/or likeness for publicity, promotional, and advertising purposes in any and all media now or hereafter known, throughout the world in perpetuity, without additional compensation, notification, permission, or approval, and, upon request, to the giving of consent, in writing, to such use; and, (d) to be bound by these Official Rules and to waive any right to claim any ambiguity or error therein or in the Contest itself, and to be bound by all decisions of the Sponsors, which are binding and final. Failure to comply with these conditions may result in disqualification from the Contest at Sponsors’ sole discretion.
ADDITIONAL TERMS: Sponsors reserve the right to permanently disqualify from any promotion any person they believe has intentionally violated these Official Rules. Any attempt to deliberately damage the Contest or the operation thereof is unlawful and subject to legal action by Sponsors, who may seek damages to the fullest extent permitted by law. The failure of Sponsors to comply with any provision of these Official Rules due to an act of God, hurricane, war, fire, riot, earthquake, terrorism, act of public enemies, actions of governmental authorities outside of the control of Sponsors (excepting compliance with applicable codes and regulations), or other “force majeure” event will not be considered a breach of these Official Rules. Released Parties assume no responsibility for any injury or damage to entrants’ or to any other person’s computer relating to or resulting from entering or downloading materials or software in connection with the Contest. Released Parties are not responsible for telecommunications, network, electronic, technical, or computer failures of any kind; for inaccurate transcription of entry information; for errors in any promotional or marketing materials or in these Official Rules; for any human or electronic error; or for entries that are stolen, misdirected, garbled, delayed, lost, late, damaged, or returned. Sponsors reserve the right to cancel, modify, or suspend the Contest or any element thereof (including, without limitation, these Official Rules) without notice in any manner and for any reason (including, without limitation, in the event of any unanticipated occurrence that is not fully addressed in these Official Rules). In the event of cancellation, modification, or suspension, Sponsors reserve the right to select Winners in a random drawing from among all eligible, non-suspect entries received prior to the time of the event warranting such cancellation, modification, or suspension. Notice of such cancellation, modification, or suspension will be posted on the NBC Website. Sponsors may prohibit any entrant or potential entrant from participating in the Contest, if such entrant or potential entrant shows a disregard for these Official Rules; acts with an intent to annoy, abuse, threaten, or harass any other entrant, Sponsors, or Sponsors’ agents or representatives; or behaves in any other disruptive manner (as determined by Sponsors in their sole discretion). Sponsors reserve the right to modify these rules for clarification purposes without materially affecting the terms and conditions of the Contest.
DISPUTES: THE CONTEST IS GOVERNED BY, AND WILL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, AND THE FORUM AND VENUE FOR ANY DISPUTE SHALL BE IN NEW YORK, NEW YORK. IF THE CONTROVERSY OR CLAIM IS NOT OTHERWISE RESOLVED THROUGH DIRECT DISCUSSIONS OR MEDIATION, IT SHALL THEN BE RESOLVED BY FINAL AND BINDING ARBITRATION ADMINISTERED BY JUDICIAL ARBITRATION AND MEDIATION SERVICES, INC., IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS STREAMLINED ARBITRATION RULES AND PROCEDURES OR SUBSEQUENT VERSIONS THEREOF (“JAMS RULES”). THE JAMS RULES FOR SELECTION OF AN ARBITRATOR SHALL BE FOLLOWED, EXCEPT THAT THE ARBITRATOR SHALL BE EXPERIENCED AND LICENSED TO PRACTICE LAW IN NEW YORK. ALL PROCEEDINGS BROUGHT PURSUANT TO THIS PARAGRAPH WILL BE CONDUCTED IN THE COUNTY OF NEW YORK. THE REMEDY FOR ANY CLAIM SHALL BE LIMITED TO ACTUAL DAMAGES, AND IN NO EVENT SHALL ANY PARTY BE ENTITLED TO RECOVER PUNITIVE, EXEMPLARY, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, INCLUDING ATTORNEY’S FEES OR OTHER SUCH RELATED COSTS OF BRINGING A CLAIM, OR TO RESCIND THIS AGREEMENT OR SEEK INJUNCTIVE OR ANY OTHER EQUITABLE RELIEF.
WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT: For the names of the Winners, available after December 5, 2019, visit https://www.nbcconnecticut.com, or send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to be received by February 5, 2020 to: NBC Connecticut, Attn: Brad Luck, New Haven Tree Lighting Choral Contest, 1422 New Britain Avenue, West Hartford, CT 06110.
This Contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. Entrants are providing information to Sponsors and not to Facebook.
