OFFICIAL RULES AND REGULATIONS WISN-TV’s College Basketball Sports Picks CONTEST
1. No purchase necessary to enter. MAKING A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. All federal, state, and local regulations apply. Void where prohibited. WISN TV, WISN.com, ESPN 540, Shorewest Realty and Ho-Chunk Casino (“Sponsor”) is the sole sponsors of the WISN.com College Basketball Sports Picks Contest (“Contest”).
2. Eligibility. Contest offered only to contestants who are at least 21 years old and legal US residents. Contest offered only to contestants who are residents of Wisconsin residing within the Milwaukee DMA as determined by Nielsen Media Research Services. Proof of age, eligibility and identity must be furnished upon request. All entry information must be completely filled out and all questions answered accurately. Sponsor will not award a prize to anyone not meeting eligibility requirements at the time of entry. Employees of WISN-TV, WISN.COM, WISN Hearst-Argyle Television, Inc., Hearst-Argyle Television, Inc., Shorewest Realty, Ho-Chunk Casino, ESPN 540 their parent, subsidiary and affiliated companies, agencies, and sponsors (“Contest Entities”), and the immediate families and members of the same households of such individuals are not eligible. No groups, clubs, or organizations may participate in this Contest or reproduce or distribute any portion of these rules to their members. Winners of a WISN-TV/ WISN.com contest or sweepstakes within the past year are not eligible. Sponsors reserve the right to disqualify any entrant if these Contest rules are not followed.
3. To Enter. The Contest entry period begins March 17, 2008. To enter, go to www.wisn.com. Entrants may enter the Contest using two different methods.
Method 1 (Round-by-Round):
Entrants may enter by making picks up until twenty (20) minutes before scheduled tip-off for each game. Enter your picks into the game fields for each scheduled basketball game. Using this method of participation, entrants may make their picks only for upcoming games; picks may not be entered retroactively. Following each round of the college basketball tournament, entrants may enter their predictions into the game fields for the next round. Entrants do not predict all of the tournament’s game results at the start of the tournament. If you fail to make a pick for a particular game, the computer software will generate your pick for that game by assigning you the most-picked team according to all other entries for that game. Entrants using this method of entry may participate in the Contest even after the college basketball tournament begins but the chances of winning a prize may be diminished. Limit one entry per person using Method 1. Method 1 entrants will be competing with other Method 1 entrants nationwide (including entrants who entered locally in the Milwaukee DMA) for prizes that will be awarded at the conclusion of each round of the tournament.
Method 2 (Complete Bracket):
Entrants predict all of the tournament’s game results prior to the start of the tournament. Enter your picks into the game fields for each scheduled college basketball game. The entry deadline for entering using Method 2 is twenty (20) minutes before scheduled tipoff for the first game of the tournament on Thursday March 20, 2008. If you fail to make a pick for a particular game using Method 2, your entry will not be accepted. Entrants using this method of entry may participate in the Contest even after the college basketball tournament begins but the chances of winning a prize may be diminished. Limit one entry per person using Method 2. Method 2 entrants will be competing both locally (in the Milwaukee DMA) and nationwide for prizes as described below.
Sponsors may not acknowledge the receipt of entrants’ picks. Entries become property of Sponsors and will not be returned. Limit one entry per person per entry method. Entrants may enter a total of two times, i.e., one time using each method of entry. Sponsors are not responsible for entries or picks or predictions that are lost, late, misdirected, incomplete, incomprehensible, illegible, damaged, undeliverable or delayed. Electronic and e-mail entries will be deemed to have been submitted by the authorized account holder of the e-mail address at the time of the entry. The authorized account holder is the person to whom the applicable internet service provider or other organization (such as a business or educational institution) has assigned the e-mail address.
4. How to Win. There are four categories of winners: (a) one Local Overall Winner, who will be selected from among the local participants who enter using Complete Bracket entry (method 2 as described above); (b) Round-by-Round round Winners who will be selected from the national pool of Method 1 entries; (c) Overall National Winners, who will be selected from the national pool of Complete Bracket entries; and (d) Overall National Round-by-Round Winner who will be selected from the national pool of Method 1 entries. The point value for each game is clearly marked on the web page when entrants make their predictions. Games are not all worth an equal amount of points. Each round of the tournament is worth a total of 64 points. There are 6 rounds in the tournament that total up to 384 points. First round games are worth 2 points each. Second round games are worth 4 points each. Third round games are worth 8 points each. Fourth round games are worth 16 points each. Fifth round games are worth 32 points each. The final championship game is worth 64 points.
All decisions of the Sponsors are final.
If a game is canceled, forfeited, or indefinitely suspended for any reason, or if a game results in a tie, that game shall not count for any entrant and scores will be computed as if the game did not exist.
All results posted are unofficial until winners respond to notification.
(a) One Local Overall Winner will be determined by the local entrant (i.e., entrants who meet all of the eligibility requirements set forth in section 2 of these rules and who entered using Method 2) who has the highest overall score for the college basketball tournament.
(b) Round-by-Round Winners will be selected from the national pool of Method 1 entries. These winners will be determined by the entrants’ scores for each round. The entrant from the national pool of Method 1 entries that has the highest score for each round of the tournament will win a player series watch from gametimewatch.com.
(c) Overall National Winners are determined from the national pool of Method 2 entrants, by the number of correct picks made, such that: (i) a Method 2 participant who correctly predicts all 63 tournament game results could win one (1) $100,000 cash prize (“63 Winner”), unless there are multiple national 63 Winners, in which case the $100,000 prize will be divided equally among all 63 Winners; (ii) a Method 2 participant who correctly predicts 62 or 61 tournament game results could win one of five (5) $10,000 cash prizes (“62/61 Winner”), unless there are more than five (5) national 62/61 Winners, in which case the five (5) $10,000 prizes will be divided equally among all 62/61 Winners; (iii) a Method 2 participant who correctly predicts 60 tournament game results may win one of ten (10) $1,000 cash prizes (“60 Winner”), unless there are more than ten (10) national 60 Winners, in which case the ten (10) $1,000 prizes will be divided equally among all 60 Winners; and (iv) one national Method 2 entrant with the overall highest score wins an Apple Video iPod.
(d) The overall National Round-by-Round entrant with the highest overall score will win a sapphire watch from gametimewatch.com.
Tiebreaker Procedures. Ties are broken as follows.
(i) For the Round-by-Round competition:
Entrants predict which team they think is going to win the particular game, and they predict the score for a designated tie-breaker game. The UPickem computer software then takes all the entrants who are tied and applies a Score Approximation Formula (“SAF”) as described immediately below:
SAF Step 1: Subtract the score predicted by the entrant as the score for the winning team from the actual winning team’s score and square this value.
SAF Step 2: Subtract the score predicted by the entrant as the score for the losing team from the actual losing team’s score and square this value.
SAF Step 3: Add the values derived in Steps 1 and 2 above together to get the entrant’s “score approximation.”
The UPickem computer software compares the Score Approximations of all tied entrants. The tied entrant with the lowest Score Approximation wins, and the tie is broken. If, however, there is still a tie after determining the tied entrants’ Score Approximations, then the tie is broken by the computer software randomly selecting a national round-by-round winner from the entrants who are tied.
(ii) For the Local Overall Winner and National Method 2 Apple iPod Touch Winner:
If there are ties among local entrants (in the Milwaukee DMA) who entered using Method 2 for overall score, the UPickem computer software takes those entrants that correctly predicted the winner of the championship game and applies the SAF outlined above, and the tied entrant with the lowest Score Approximation wins. If there are still ties after application of the SAF, the UPickem computer software evaluates which entrant had the most points earned in the fifth round. The tied entrant who had the most points earned in the fifth round is declared the winner. If there is still a tie, then the UPickem computer software evaluates which entrant had the most points earned in the fourth round. The tied entrant who had the most points earned in the fourth round is declared the winner. If there is still a tie, then the UPickem computer software evaluates which entrant had the most points earned in the third round. The tied entrant who had the most points earned in the third round is declared the winner. If there is still a tie, then the UPickem computer software evaluates which entrant had the most points earned in the second round. The tied entrant who had the most points earned in the second round is declared the winner. If there is still a tie, then the UPickem computer software evaluates which entrant had the most points earned in the first round. The tied entrant who had the most points earned in the first round is declared the winner. If there is still a tie, then the UPickem computer software randomly selects the winner from the tied entrants.
NEXT 4 POINTS FROM LAST YEARS PICKS
5. Prizes and Odds of Winning. One local winner who enters using Method 2, with the highest overall score, will be offered one (1) 1-night stay at Ho-Chunk Casino in Baraboo, WI plus a $50 dining certificate. Value of prize is $200. Some restrictions may apply. Prize must be used by December 31, 2008. Entrants who are eligible to compete for prizes in WISN.com College Basketball Sports Picks Contest are automatically entered to compete nationally for the national prizes, subject to all the conditions and restrictions set forth in these rules. Nationally, a maximum of one $100,000 cash prize will be offered. A maximum of five $10,000 cash prizes will be awarded, and a maximum of ten $1,000 cash prizes will be awarded. These cash prizes are subject to division among multiple winners as described in these rules. National Round-by-Round round winners will be awarded a player series watch from gametimewatch.com (est. retail value $39.95). National overall Round-by-Round winner will win a sapphire watch from gametimewatch.com (est. retail value $249.95). National overall winner entering via Method 2 will win an Apple Video iPod (est. retail value $249.00). Fans can only win one of the cash prizes, i.e., a 63 Winner cannot also be a 62/61 Winner or a 60 Winner, and a 62/61 Winner cannot also be a 60 Winner, etc.
All charges, fees, and costs not specifically included in the prize descriptions above are the responsibility of the respective prize winner. Sponsors reserve the right to substitute prizes of equal or greater value in the event that the scheduled prize becomes unavailable. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received and on the relative ability of entrants to correctly predict the winners of games.
Prize winners will be notified by telephone and/or email, using the contact information provided in the winner’s entry. Sponsors are not responsible for incomplete, incomprehensible, illegible, or out-of-service contact information. If Sponsors have not received a response from a winner within seven (7) days of Sponsors’ initial effort to contact a selected winner, or if that winner is unavailable for or declines prize fulfillment, that winner will be disqualified and an alternate winner will be selected by application of the same scoring principles outlined above to the remaining entrants’ picks.
Prizes must be claimed at the WISN-TV Studios, 759 North 19th Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233 no later than April 30, 2008. To claim prize, winner must provide a valid driver’s license or state identification card. Prizes not claimed by claim date will be forfeited.
6. Conditions: Participants are responsible for complying with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations and with these Contest Rules, and by entering, participants agree to be bound to these Contest rules. Any security breach or other attempt by an entrant or other party to tamper with the proper administration of the Contest will disqualify the entrant and may result in civil or criminal action against the entrant or other party and may result in the discontinuation, suspension, or cancellation of the Contest. WINNER AND ENTRANTS AGREE, EXCEPT WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW, TO RELEASE AND DISCHARGE, HOLD HARMLESS AND INDEMNIFY THE CONTEST ENTITIES, THEIR EMPLOYEES, AGENTS AND REPRESENTATIVES, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS AND THEIR IMMEDIATE FAMILIES, SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS, AND ALL OTHERS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT AND EXECUTION OF THIS CONTEST, FROM ANY AND ALL TAX LIABILITY THAT MAY BE IMPOSED OR ASSOCIATED WITH RECEIPT OR USE OF THE PRIZES, AND FROM AND AGAINST ANY AND ALL CLAIMS, ACTIONS, PROCEEDINGS, AND LIABILITY FOR ANY DAMAGES, EXPENSES, FEES, INJURY OR LOSSES (INCLUDING PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH) SUSTAINED IN CONNECTION WITH THE RECEIPT, OWNERSHIP, OR USE OF THE PRIZE OR WHILE TRAVELING TO, PREPARING FOR, OR PARTICIPATING IN ANY CONTEST-RELATED OR PRIZE-RELATED ACTIVITY. By entering the Contest or by winning, participants grant to the Contest Entities the right to publicize the participant’s name, photograph, image, likeness, voice, statements, and biographical information for advertising, trade, and promotion purposes without compensation and without opportunity for review, except where prohibited by law. Winner must execute an affidavit of eligibility and liability and publicity release when claiming prize. Sponsors retain the discretion to make all decisions regarding the interpretation and application of these rules. All decisions of Sponsors are final and discretionary. In the event the selected winner of a prize is ineligible, refuses the prize, or if the prize is forfeited for any reason, the prize will be forfeited and Sponsors, in their sole discretion, may randomly select an alternate winner from remaining entries pursuant to the selection criteria described above and if time permits. The laws of the State of Wisconsin shall govern this Contest, without regard to Wisconsin’s choice of law rules. The courts of Wisconsin shall be the exclusive forum for any dispute relating to these Rules, terms and conditions and/or this Contest. All participants and winners agree, by their participation in the Contest, to submit to the personal jurisdiction of the courts of Wisconsin. For prizes valued at $600 or greater, winner must provide his or her Social Security Number for tax purposes. Prizes may be considered income, and any and all taxes associated with prizes are responsibility of winner.
7. Liability and Force Majeure Clause: Contest Entities, their affiliated, parent, and subsidiary companies, their employees, agents and officers, advertising and promotion agencies, and all others associated with the development and execution of this Contest are not responsible for: (1) problems associated with television transmission, radio transmission, cable transmission, satellite transmission, phone lines, facsimile, or cable lines and/or phone or IP numbers that are beyond their control. This includes, but is not limited to: a busy signal, operator interference, cellular interference, Internet congestion, technical or atmospheric conditions that disrupt the completion of a phone call, facsimile transmission, email transmission, or cable modem service, or other Internet interruptions or malfunctions or for technical or other difficulties which may prohibit, prevent, or interfere with the transmission of television or radio signals to all or limited geographic areas during the playing of the Contest or that may prohibit, prevent, or interfere with the acquisition, completion, or submission of an entry; failures of or other problems relating to computer hardware, software, the Internet, or similar systems, including but not limited to difficulties relating to entrants’ ISP, DSL, or cable modem access, “worms,” or viruses or any other problem of any description or nature which may prohibit prevent or interfere with the acquisition, completion or submission of an entry; (2) typographical errors in any materials relating to the Contest; (3) lost, misdirected, illegible, incomplete, or delayed entry forms; (4) cancellations, postponements, or delays; (5) Acts of God, war, terrorism, government regulation, disaster, fire, strikes, civil disorder, or other similar causes beyond the control of the Contest Entities, their affiliated, parent, and subsidiary companies, advertising and promotional agencies and their immediate assigns, making it inadvisable, illegal, impossible or impractical to continue the Contest or to perform under these Rules. In the event of any of the foregoing, Sponsor reserves the right to suspend, terminate, modify, or continue the Contest, in its sole discretion. Contest Entities make no warranty, guarantee, or representation of any kind concerning any prize, and Contest Entities specifically DISCLAIM ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, WARRANTY OF FITNESS, AND ANY OTHER IMPLIED WARRANTY.
8. Odds Of Winning. The odds of winning depend upon the number of eligible entries received.
9. Official Rules and Winners List. To receive a copy of these complete official rules, visit www.WISN.com or send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to: WISN-TV, College Basketball Sports Picks Contest, P.O. Box 402, Milwaukee, WI 53201, or visit the WISN-TV studios at 759 N. 19th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53233, during regular business hours. Official rules supersede all other published editions. Sponsors reserve the right to change these Contest rules to ensure fair administration of the Contest and compliance with applicable law, without notice, in their sole discretion. For a list of the winner’s name, send a self-addressed stamped envelope by May 31, 2008, to WISN-TV, College Basketball Sports Picks Winner, at the address listed above.
