DIGICEL STARS 2 WINNERS ‘NIGHT SHIFT’ CLAIM GRAND PRIZE

January 5th 2012 - Digicel awards Digicel Stars 2 Grand final winner runners-up

Digicel  today awarded the winners of its most popular TV show-Digicel Stars 2 and winner-‘Night Shift’ have claimed the top prize of K10 000 prize money and a recording contract while runners-up Andrew Napoleon and Brian Kepi receiving K5,000 and K2,500 respectively.

Both members of the winning group-Nightshift-Samantha Clark and Jeremiah Prout have also each receive a state-of-the-art, iPad 2 valued at K3, 000 from Digicel. Night shift has been officially presented with their prizes at the Digicel Office in the group’s home town of Alotau today as well.

Digicel Stars 2 Grand Final first runner-up Andrew Napolean and second runners-up Brian Kepi also claimed their respective prizes at the Digicel Head Office in Port Moresby which included the prize money as well as a Samsung Galaxy smartphone each valued at K2, 000.

Speaking on behalf of winning group of the competition, group member- Jeremiah Prout , in a separate media event in Alotau today - thanked Digicel for giving young people in PNG the opportunity to step out and show case their talents. He said:

 “Samantha Clark and I are forever grateful to Digicel for this recording contract and the overall exposure that we would not have rather gotten if it had not been for the Digicel Stars competition. Digicel has definitely done an excellent job so far and we are proud to be part of the show throughout last year. We look forward to sharing this recording contract with the rest of PNG through our music.”
 
Second runner up of the show-Brian Kepi also thanked Digicel He said; “Being part of the Digicel Stars show last year has thought me a lot of things such as believing myself and my talent. I also gained a lot of confidence during the show which I wouldn’t have if I had not gone for the auditions in the very first place. Thank you Digicel for this great opportunity because now I can look forward to what is ahead of me in terms of music and my singing.”

Digicel PNG CEO John Mangos said; “Congratulations Brian and Andrew who was not able to be here with us for the presentation; for a well done job throughout the Digicel Stars competition last year. You all have proven to be the best and deserve the top prizes.”

“We also extend our congratulations to Nightshift members-Samantha and Jeremiah who are also receiving their prizes in a separate media event in Alotau right now. We wish you all the best in your music careers.”

“We would also like to thank all the contestants who have contributed in making this show a success last year and, we look forward in discovering more great talents throughout PNG again this year.”

Alotau Group ‘Night Shift’ made up of Alotau locals Samantha Clark and Jeremiah Prout have been announced as the winner of the Digicel Stars 2 singing competition in December last year after receiving over 5, 000 SMS votes from viewers, fans and family around the country.

Night Shift was among four other grand finalists in PNG’s most watched entertainment show- Digicel Stars 2 who eventually secured the top spot after receiving a total of 5,950 on the Grand Final show aired on EMTV last Sunday.

Following behind Nightshift was Andrew Napolean who received 3,542 votes thus making him the first runner-up while 16-year old Brian Kepi earned himself the second runner-up spot after recording a total of 2,252 votes. Gideon Singur took out the fourth place with 687 votes.

Digicel Stars 2 was launched in August this year with auditions in Alotau, Mt.Hagen, Kokopo Lae and Port Moresby. The Competition had a total of 46 contestants from throughout the country who were put into six different heats to compete. Two contestants were being selected from each of the heats, one the ‘Judges Choice’ and the other ‘Viewer’s Choice’ and these contestants then competed in the two elimination shows, before semi final and the Grand Finale on December 18, 22011.

Digicel Stars 2 Fact Sheet

·         Six days of open auditions Alotau (20 August), Mt Hagen (27 August), Kokopo (3 Sept), Lae (10 Sept) and NCD (17 and 18 Sept).

·         Thousands of hopefuls will pass through the judges in the hope of making it through to the heats

·         Six  heats, Two elimination shows, two semi-finals and the Grand-final

·         recorded at the EM TV studios

·         1st prize: K10,000 prize money, one recording contract and a new ipad2 valued at K3000

·         2nd and 3rd prizes will be K3000 and K2 500 cash respectively and a new Samsung Galaxy tablet valued at K2000 each

·         Judges: Lorna, AK and Moses and Asigau.

·         Digicel Stars 1 winner Greg Aaron has just launched his first album of his own original songs.

*Registration SMS cost K1 per SMS.

 ENDS