The Envelope is Dead: Long Live Sony Tablet™

SAN DIEGO, May 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- And the award goes to.... Sony Tablet.  At the 2012 Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas, on-stage presenters will announce the winners by reading their names off of the Sony Tablet P.  With almost everything making the move to digital these days, it is only natural that the iconic awards show moment – when the presenter rips opens an envelope and announces the winner – is also making a technological leap forward.

Presenters for all seven on-air awards will use a Sony Tablet P in place of the traditional envelope. Presenters will open the folding, dual-screen tablet to reveal the name of the winner on the screen inside. Sony Tablet S is being used by members of the production team through pre-production and on show night in monitoring the ongoing discussions across all social media sites.

The 2012 Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena and are to be broadcast live on ABC, Sunday, May 20, 8 – 11 p.m. ET.   This year's presenters include Taio Cruz, Gavin DeGraw, Gladys Knight, Julianne Hough, Natasha Bedingfield and Jeremy Sisto. More presenters will be announced as the show draws closer. ABC Modern Family's Julie Bowen and Ty Burrell were previously announced as the event's hosts.

"We're thrilled to be working with Sony to make the Billboard Music Awards winner announcements more exciting and dynamic than ever before," said Tommy Page, publisher of Billboard.  "This new advancement in the show is a perfect extension of the Billboard brand as we are constantly evolving our digital content offerings on various platforms from Billboard.com to the Billboard chart app."

The Android-powered Sony Tablet S and Sony Tablet P devices create a world of engaging entertainment experiences off-stage, too. Sony Tablet devices are PlayStation® Certified, provide access to the full suite of Sony Network Entertainment services and are distinguished by four key features that set them apart from any other tablets on the market. These include: uniquely designed hardware and software, a "swift and smooth" experience (which includes Sony original features, Quick view and Quick touch), network entertainment services and cross-device connectivity.

The Sony Tablet S device is available in both 16GB and 32 GB versions and is sold at Sony Store including online and other authorized retailers nationwide for about $399 and $499, respectively. The Sony Tablet P device is sold at more than 1,000 AT&T company-owned retail stores, online at www.att.com and at Sony Stores for $399 with a two-year AT&T service agreement. For more information please visit www.sony.com/tablet.

The 2012 Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas is a production co-executive produced by Richard D. Beckman, CEO Prometheus Global Media and Don Mischer Productions. The special will be shot in high definition and broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's selected HD format, with 5.1 channel surround sound.

About Billboard
Billboard is the world's most influential music brand reaching key executives and tastemakers in and around the music business through Billboard magazine, Billboard.biz, Billboard Conferences, Billboard Bulletin, and other targeted newsletters, and millions of music fans through Billboard.com and Billboard Events. The Billboard brand is built on its exclusive charts and unrivaled reporting on the latest news, issues and trends across all genres of music. Billboard charts and content are consumed and referenced by millions of people in more than 100 countries through a content syndication deal with global news network, The Associated Press, and strategic relationships with other major companies around the world. In addition to North America, Billboard operates businesses in Brazil, Greece, Japan, Korea and Russia. Billboard is owned by Prometheus Global Media, a diversified company with leading assets in the media and entertainment arenas, including: Music (Billboard and its related conferences, events, and awards shows such as The Billboard Music Awards on ABC, and The Billboard Latin Music Awards on Telemundo), Entertainment (The Hollywood Reporter, Backstage, ShowEast, Cineasia, and CineEurope); and Advertising & Marketing (Adweek, Adweek Conferences and The CLIO Awards).

SOURCE Sony Electronics, Inc.