Mascot Vote Rules - WJTV Jackson Mississippi

Mississippi Mascot Challenge Rules

WJTV is proud to co-sponsor the Mississippi Mascot Challenge. During the next 9 weeks, you the fans will decide which school has the best mascot!

WJTV and WHLT are proud to announce the return of the Mississippi Mascot Challenge. This fall, your high school Mascot could be voted the best mascot!

The Mississippi Mascot Challenge will appear on-air during WJTV and WHLT sportscasts as well as on-line at WJTV.com and WHLT.com. The Mississippi Mascot Challenge website is designed to allow the mascots to interact with the fans.

Each mascot will be provided a bio page to provided unique information about their personalities in attempt to gain more votes. Each mascot will receive a Twitter account so they can convince fans to vote for them!

Here is how the Mississippi Mascot Challenge will work.

MISSISSIPPI MASCOT CHALLENGE CONTEST OFFICIAL RULES

1. NO PURCHASE IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. The Mississippi Mascot Challenge Contest (the “Contest”) is sponsored by Media General Operations, Inc. d/b/a WJTV News Channel 12 (“Sponsor”) and [OTHER SPONSORS] (collectively referred to as “Contest Entities”). The geographic scope of this promotion is the Sponsor’s broadcast area in Jackson and Hattiesburg, Mississippi. This Contest is executed on www.wjtv.com (“Contest Site”).
2. Contest begins on begins on August 24, 2012 and ends on October 26, 2012 (“Promotion Period”). Announcement of Winning School will be on or about October 26, 2012. Sponsor’s computer is the official time-keeping device for this Contest promotion. Contest is subject to all federal, state and local laws. Void where prohibited by law. By participating and/or voting, you agree to these Official Rules.
3. All eligible high schools (each a "School") who enter the Contest will be assigned bio pages (each a "Bio Page") and Twitter accounts to use to communicate information about the Contest and personalities of their respective official team mascots (each a "Mascot") to persuade fans to vote for their Mascots. Each School may designate at least one official representative (each a “Mascot Representative”) who will be responsible for posting to their Bio Pages and managing their Mascot's Twitter feeds.
4. Contest consists generally of the three (3) following phases, which are described in more detail below in these Official Rules:
a. Round 1 – First Round of Public Voting (8/24/12 - 9/13/12): Starting August 24, 2012, visitors to the Contest Site vote for their favorite Mascots. The twelve (12) Mascots receiving the highest number of votes during the First Voting Round will move forward to Phase Two as the Semi-Finalist Mascots.
b. Round 2: Second Round of Public Voting (9/14/12 - 10/4/12): All votes will be set to zero at the beginning of the Second Voting Round. Visitors to the Contest Site will vote for their favorite of the twelve (12) Semi-Finalist Mascots. The four (4) Mascots receiving the highest number of votes during the Second Voting Round will move forward to the "Final Four" Voting as the Finalist Mascots.
c. Final Four: Final Round of Public Voting (10/5/12 - 10/26/12): All votes again will be set to zero at the beginning of the Final Four Round. Visitors to the Contest Site will vote for their favorite of the four (4) Finalist Mascots. Subject to verification of eligibility, the Finalist Mascot receiving the highest number of votes during the Final Four Round will be declared the Winning Mascot and his/her School will be declared the Winning School. Total votes may not be visible during the final four until contest conclusion.

PRIZE/PRIZE RESTRICTIONS

5. Prize (1): Winning School will receive a check in an amount not to exceed $1,500 to purchase a new Mascot Costume (or reimburse School for previously purchased Mascot Costume), which must be claimed within ninety (90) days. Approximate Retail Value (“ARV”): $1,500.00.
6. Prize must be claimed in its entirety within ninety (90) days. All details of prize shall be at Sponsor’s sole discretion. Winning School assumes sole responsibility for all costs associated with the prizes not explicitly outlined above, including without limitation, all federal, state and local taxes (if any).
7. Any portion of any prize not used by Winning School is forfeited and no cash substitute will be offered or permitted. Prize may not be transferred or substituted except that Sponsor in its discretion may substitute a prize, or portion thereof, with a prize or portion of equal or greater value if it deems necessary.

CONTEST MATERIALS

8. All content (whether text, graphics, photographic, audio, video or otherwise) communicated by Mascot Representatives using the Bio Page or Twitter Account (collectively the "Contest Materials") submitted during the Contest must satisfy the following Submission Requirements:
a. Materials must be original to the Mascot Representative (not copied, adapted, or reproduced from any other source and not collaboration with any other person).
b. No watermarks, signatures, or copyright notices may be added to any Contest Materials.
c. Any individual whose face is shown in any Contest Materials must have previously given you written permission for the use of his/her image and you must provide Contest Entities with a copy of such permission upon request.
d. Contest Materials must not depict any identifiable trademark or trade name.
e. Contest Materials should not include any music.
f. Contest Materials must not depict or include any profanity, obscene, adult, provocative or otherwise inappropriate content, including but not limited to nudity.
9. In the event that any claim of unauthorized use of any content contained within the Contest Materials is made to Contest Entities by any third party, Contest Entities reserve the right to immediately terminate access to the Contest Materials and disqualify the related Mascot. In addition, any Contest Materials that are determined by Contest Entities in their sole discretion at any time during the Promotion Period to violate the Submission Requirements or the Official Rules, or to otherwise be unsuitable, offensive, in poor taste, or otherwise not in keeping with Contest Entities’ corporate images, as determined in the sole discretion of Contest Entities, may be deleted and the corresponding Mascot disqualified. Contest Entities retain sole discretion as to whether any Contest Materials satisfy the Submission Requirements and their decisions are final.

Warranty/Indemnification By Mascot Representative

10. By submitting any Contest Materials, each Mascot Representative warrants that (a) the Contest Materials are original to and were created solely by the Mascot Representative and have not been copied, in whole or in part, from any copyrighted or proprietary work belonging to someone else, (b) the Contest Materials do not violate any copyright laws, and do not plagiarize, libel, slander, defame, disparage, or otherwise infringe on or violate the rights of any third parties, (c) any and all persons depicted in the Contest Materials have provided the Mascot Representative with signed, written permission to take or create the Contest Materials and to submit it in this Contest; (d) Mascot Representative is legally entitled to submit the Contest Materials in the Contest; (e) the distribution, reproduction, display and any other uses of the Contest Materials by Contest Entities as permitted herein will not infringe any third party rights, including those of any person who is depicted in, or whose property is depicted in, the Contest Materials; and (f) the Contest Materials comply with each of the provisions of the Terms of Use of the Contest Site at: www.wjtv.com.
11. Each Mascot Representative agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Contest Entities, their respective parent companies and subsidiaries, and their respective officers, directors, employees and affiliated organizations, from and against any and all claims, demands, damages, costs, liabilities and causes of action of whatsoever nature that are based upon or arise out of any breach by the Mascot Representative of these Official Rules or the warranties and/or representations made by Mascot Representative pursuant to these Official Rules.
12. By submitting any Contest Materials, Mascot Representative grants to Sponsor (and to those acting on Sponsor’s behalf) a non-exclusive, perpetual, world-wide royalty-free license (and waive all moral rights in and to the Contest Materials) to display or otherwise use the Contest Materials on the Contest Site and any related sites in connection with the administration of this Contest.

Voter Registration Requirements

13. Voters must be at least thirteen (13) years old or older.
14. Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify any votes that it reasonably believes to have been fraudulently cast. Sponsor reserves the right to cancel, terminate or suspend this Contest or any part of this Contest should any non-authorized intervention, network failure, information storage failure, telecommunications failure, malfunction, or other causes beyond its control, corrupt or impair the security, administration, fairness and/or operation of this Contest as determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion. In such an event, Sponsor reserves the right to select the Winning Mascot in the manner it deems fair in light of the circumstances and the number of non-suspect votes received.

PRIVACY POLICY

15. The personal information that you provide in connection with the Contest (in any capacity) may be used by Sponsor in accordance with Sponsor’s Privacy Policy, which is found at www.wjtv.com and which may be updated from time to time.
ROUND 1
16. The First Round of Voting will begin on August 24, 2012 at 4:00 p.m. CT and end on September 13, 2012 at 3:59 p.m. CT (“Round 1”). During Round 1, any registered voters (including Mascot Representatives) (collectively referred to as “Voters”) may visit the Contest Site to view the Mascots and to vote for their favorite Mascots.
17. At the conclusion of Round 1, the voting results will be tabulated and the twelve (12) Mascots who receive the highest number of votes will progress to Round 2 as the Semi-Finalist Mascots. Contest Entities reserve the right to progress fewer than twelve (12) Semi-Finalist Mascots to round 2 in the event of an insufficient number of remaining eligible Mascots for any reason.
ROUND 2
18. The Second Round of Voting will begin on October 1, 2011 at 12:01 a.m. CT and end on October 21, 2011 at 11:59 p.m. CT (“Round 2”). During Round 2, any Voters may visit the Contest Site to view the Semi-Finalist Mascots and to vote for their favorite Semi-Finalist Mascots.
19. At the conclusion of Round 2, the voting results will be tabulated and the four (4) Semi-Finalist Mascots who receive the highest number of votes will progress to the Final Four as the Finalist Mascots. Contest Entities reserve the right to progress fewer than four (4) Finalist Mascots to the Final Four in the event of an insufficient number of remaining eligible Semi-Finalist Mascots for any reason.
FINAL FOUR
20. The Final Four Round will begin on October 5, 2012 at 4:00 p.m. CT and end on October 26, 2012 at 3:59 p.m. CT (“Final Four”). During the Final Four, any Contest Site visitors (including Mascot Representatives) (collectively referred to as “Voters”) may visit the Contest Site to view the Finalist Mascots and to vote for their favorites.
21. At the conclusion of the Final Four, the voting results will be tabulated and, subject to verification of eligibility and compliance with these Official Rules, the Finalist Mascot who receives the highest number of votes will be declared the Winning Mascot. Sponsor will announce the name of the Winning Mascot on or about October 26, 2011. However, all results are unofficial until Winning Mascot has confirmed compliance with these Official Rules.

WINNER NOTIFICATION

22. Contest Entities will contact potential Winning School via e-mail or telephone in accordance with the information previously supplied by the Winning School. Winning School may be asked to provide Contest Entities with an executed affidavit of eligibility or declaration and, where legal, publicity release(s), within the time stated by Contest Entities. Prize will be awarded in the name of Winning School. Winning School is responsible for all federal, state and local taxes. Winning School may also be required to sign other legal documents, including tax forms and a release supplied by Contest Entities which, among other disclaimers, releases Contest Entities and a range of subsidiaries, directors, agents, agencies, affiliates, franchisees, promoters, officers, directors, employees and related persons from any and all liability related to this Contest and the receipt and use of the prize. Upon verification of eligibility, the names of Winning School and Winning Mascot may be posted on the Contest Site at www.wjtv.com.
23. In the event that any potential Winning School (a) cannot be directly reached within two (2) days of the first attempt; (b) fails to satisfy any eligibility or verification requirement herein, (c) declines to accept the prize, (d) or is otherwise determined to be ineligible, Contest Entities may in their discretion disqualify that School and the runner-up Finalist Mascot will be declared the Winning Mascot as soon as reasonably practicable after initial Winning School is determined to be ineligible. Alternate Winning School is subject to all eligibility requirements and restrictions of these Official Rules.

PUBLICITY RELEASE/COPYLIGHT LICENSE

24. By accepting a prize, where permitted by law, each Winning School grants to Sponsor, and those acting pursuant to the authority of Sponsor (and agrees to confirm that grant in writing), the right to print, publish, broadcast, and use for the purposes of this or similar contest only, worldwide in any media now known or hereafter developed—including, but not limited to, the World Wide Web—at any time(s), their names, pictures, likenesses, and information, as news or information and for art, trade, and/or promotional purposes without additional compensation or review. Any individuals depicted in the Winning School's Contest Materials may be required to sign and return a Release of Liability/Publicity within the period specified by Sponsor. Each Winning School also grants to Sponsor the rights to use their Contest Materials for promotion of this Contest or similar purposes for a period of three (3) years, where permitted by law.

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY/DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY

25. You agree that Contest Entities and a range of subsidiaries, directors, agents, agencies, affiliates, franchisees, promoters, officers, directors, employees and related persons (a) are not responsible for technical failures of any kind, including but not limited to lost, disconnected, interrupted, or unavailable network, server, or other connections, late, lost, undeliverable, damaged or stolen mail, or for any failed telephone or computer hardware or software, or for any failed, delayed, misdirected, corrupted, or garbled transmissions or errors of any kind, whether human, mechanical, or electronic, or for Entries or votes that for any reason are not received by Contest Entities by the deadlines stated above; (b) are not responsible for any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by Mascot Representatives, Voters, printing, typographical or other errors or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Contest or in the printing of this offer, administration of this Contest, or in the announcement of the prizes; (c) are not responsible for any injury or damage to any computer, modem or other electrical device as a result of participation in this Contest or in the Public Voting, or downloading of any software or materials; (d) are not responsible for unauthorized human intervention in any part of the Contest, including without limitation, the Public Voting processes; (e) are not responsible for any printing, typographical, technical, computer, network or human error that may occur in the administration of the Contest, the uploading or viewing of Contest Materials, or the processing or tabulating of Votes, the announcement of the Semi-Finalist Mascots, Finalist Mascots, or Winning Mascot, the prize or otherwise in any Contest-related materials; (f) are not responsible for any unauthorized third party use of any Contest Materials; (g) are not responsible for the inability to select Winning Mascot because of postal failure, equipment failure, or data storage failure; and (h) are released from any and all alleged, existing, or future actions, claims, and/or liabilities of whatever nature including, but not limited to, personal injury, bodily injury (including, without limitation, wrongful death and disability), property damage, and expense (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees) and loss or damage of any other kind, arising in whole or in part directly or indirectly, from participating and/or voting in the Contest (in whole or in part), the use (including modification, adaptation, and reproduction) of Contest Materials during or after the Contest, and the delivery, acceptance, possession, use, misuse, loss, or misdirection of any prize.
26. CONTEST ENTITIES AND THEIR SUBSIDIARIES, AFFILIATES, AGENTS, DISTRIBUTORS, RETAILERS, AND ALL OF THEIR RESPECTIVE ADVERTISING AND PROMOTIONAL AGENCIES, REPRESENTATIVES, EMPLOYEES, CONTRACTORS, OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, AND AGENTS (COLLECTIVELY, THE "RELEASED PARTIES") EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM ANY AND ALL WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND (WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED, STATUTORY OR OTHERWISE), INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. RELEASED PARTIES SHALL NOT BE LIABLE OR RESPONSIBLE FOR THOSE GUARANTEES OR WARRANTIES MADE OR OFFERED BY ADVERTISERS, PARTNERS, MANUFACTURERS OR SUPPLIERS, INCLUDING THOSE RELATED TO THE PRIZE. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHALL RELEASED PARTIES BE HELD RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR YOUR USE OF THE INFORMATION AND/OR PRODUCTS PROVIDED AND/OR MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE CONTEST OR FOR ERRORS OR ANOMALIES RESULTING IN THE UNINTENDED OR ERRONEOUS PARTICIPATION, AWARD OF PRIZE OR OTHER BENEFITS UNDER THESE OFFICIAL RULES. RELEASED PARTIES OFFER NO ASSURANCES, GUARANTEES OR WARRANTIES THAT THE CONTEST OR RELATED WEBSITES WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR-FREE AND DO NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY OR RELIABILITY OF ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED THROUGH THE CONTEST. RELEASED PARTIES WILL NOT BE LIABLE, AND ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE, FOR DAMAGES OF ANY KIND RELATED TO YOUR PARTICIPATION IN OR INABILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CONTEST, WHETHER THE DAMAGES ARE DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL.
27. BY PARTICIPATING IN THE CONTEST AND/OR ACCEPTING A PRIZE, YOU AGREE THAT THE RELEASED PARTIES SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR, AND WILL BE HELD HARMLESS BY YOU AGAINST, ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY DAMAGE, INJURY OR LOSS TO PERSON (INCLUDING DEATH) OR PROPERTY RELATED IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, TO ACCEPTANCE, POSSESSION, USE OR MISUSE OF PRIZE, PARTICIPATION IN ANY PRIZE-RELATED ACTIVITY, USE BY A RELEASED PARTY OF ANY ENTRY, PARTICIPATION IN THE CONTEST, OR ANY OTHER CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION YOU MAY HAVE AGAINST A RELEASED PARTY.
28. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU IN WHOLE OR IN PART.

MISCELLANEOUS

29. All federal, state and local laws apply. Contest Entities shall be entitled to interpret these rules as needed — including but not limited to rules regarding Contest Materials, votes, selection of Semi-Finalist Mascots, Finalist Mascots, and Winning Mascot, deadlines, restrictions on prizes, and eligibility — and all of their decisions are final, binding and without appeal, in all matters related to this Contest. By entering or voting, you agree to these Official Rules.
30. Contest Entities reserve the right to cancel, terminate or suspend this Contest or any part of this Contest should any non-authorized intervention, network failure, information storage failure, telecommunications failure, malfunction, or other causes, corrupt or impair the security, administration, fairness and/or operation of this Contest as determined by Contest Entities in their sole discretion, at which time, Contest Entities will determine the Winning Mascot from among all non-suspect eligible Schools at the time of the Contest termination using the selection method and judging criteria deemed fair and reasonable by Contest Entities under the circumstances.
31. Contest Entities reserve the right to prohibit any person from participating in the Contest or the Public Voting if, at Contest Entities’ sole discretion, Contest Entities find such person to be colluding to unfair affect the outcome of the Contest, or to be tampering with the Public Voting process or the operation of the Contest in any other way, or if such person repeatedly shows a disregard for, or attempts to circumvent, these Official Rules, or acts: (a) in a manner Contest Entities determines to be not fair or equitable; (b) with an intent to annoy, threaten or harass any other person or Contest Entities; or (c) in any other disruptive manner. Any person attempting to defraud or tamper with any part of this Contest in any way will be ineligible for prizes and may be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Any failure by the Contest Entities to enforce any of these Official Rules shall not constitute a waiver of such Official Rules. CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT BY ANY INDIVIDUAL TO DELIBERATELY UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE CONTEST IS A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, CONTEST ENTITIES RESERVE THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES FROM ANY SUCH INDIVIDUAL TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.
32. All activity arising out of and relating to the Contest is subject to verification and/or auditing for compliance with the Official Rules and you agree to cooperate with Contest Entities concerning verification and/or auditing. All references to a Mascot's status as a "Winning Mascot" are subject to verification and/or auditing by Contest Entities. If verification activity or an audit evidences non-compliance of an entry or entrant with the Official Rules as determined by Contest Entities in their sole discretion, Contest Entities reserve the right to disqualify the Mascot from the Contest at any time.
33. Contest Entities reserve the right to correct typographical, printing or clerical errors in any Contest-related materials. No more than the stated number of prizes will be awarded. In the event that production, technical, seeding, programming or any other reasons cause more than the stated number of prizes as set forth in these Official Rules to be available and/or claimed, Contest Entities reserve the right to award only the stated number of prizes by selecting the Winning Mascot from all legitimate, un-awarded, eligible prize claims in accordance with the previously announced selection criteria.

DISPUTES

34. By entering the Contest and/or participating in the Public Voting, you agree that (a) any and all disputes, claims, and causes of action arising out of or connected with the Contest, the Public Voting, or any prizes awarded, shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action; (b) any and all claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, including costs associated with entering and/or participating in the Contest or Public Voting but in no event attorneys' fees; and (c) under no circumstances will you be permitted to obtain any award for, and you hereby waive all rights to claim punitive, incidental or consequential damages and any and all rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased and any other damages, other than for actual out-of-pocket expenses, and any and all rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased. Some jurisdictions do not allow for limitations on the ability to pursue class action remedies, or certain kinds of damages, and so these limitations may not apply to you.
35. By entering the Contest and/or participating in the Public Voting, you agree that all issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of any person or Contest Entities in connection with the Contest, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Mississippi, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Mississippi. Any legal proceedings arising out of this Contest or relating to these Official Rules shall be instituted only in the federal or state courts located in the State of Mississippi, County of Hinds, and the parties consent to jurisdiction therein with respect to any legal proceedings or disputes of whatever nature arising under or relating to these Official Rules. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of these Official Rules shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision. In the event that any provision is determined to be invalid or otherwise unenforceable or illegal, these Official Rules shall otherwise remain in effect and be construed in accordance with their terms as if the invalid or illegal provision were not contained herein.

WINNER'S LIST/OFFICIAL RULES COPY

36. For a copy of the Official Rules or the final Winning Mascot’s name, visit www.wjtv.com or mail a self-addressed stamped envelope to: “Mississippi Mascot Challenge Contest” c/o Media General Operations, Inc. d/b/a WJTV News Channel 12, 1820 TV Road, Jackson, MS 39204, specifying either “Winning Mascot’s List Request” or “Official Rules Request.” Winning Mascot’s Name will be available after October 26, 2012.
View The Mascots »