How do I vote?

There are 3 ways to vote for your favorite acts on Live To Dance: toll-free, text messaging (SMS) and online. Each of the acts will be assigned their own toll-free number (e.g. 1 855 LIVE TO 1 for act 1, 1-855 LIVE TO 2 for act 2 etc.) during the show. To vote, simply watch Live To Dance on CBS (see local listings for times in your area) and at the end of the show dial the number of the act for whom you wish to vote. Or, you can create a text message with the act number (e.g. 1 for act 1, 2 for act 2 etc.) in the message body and send it to the short code 97979. Or, go to www.CBS.com and follow the links to vote online. You may vote up to 10 times via toll-free per originating phone number, up to 10 times by text message per originating phone number and up to 25 times per e-mail address if voting online. Voting via toll-free and text message will remain open for 2 hours after the show broadcast in each region. Online voting will remain open until 9:00 am PT/ 12 noon ET each Thursday.

The producers reserve the right to disqualify, block or remove any votes from an individual who votes using any electronic, mechanical or automated means, or otherwise tampers with the vote process. Rules and procedures are subject to change at the sole discretion of the producers' of Live To Dance without notice.

Who can vote?

Anyone calling, texting or voting online from within Continental US, Hawaii, Alaska and Puerto Rico can cast their vote(s) for acts on Live To Dance, at least 18 or older. To vote via text message you must be a subscriber with 2 way text messaging capabilities from the following carriers: AT&T, Verizon Wireless, Sprint, T-Mobile, Nextel, Boost, Alltel, U.S. Cellular, Virgin Mobile, Dobson, Cincinnati Bell, Cellular South, NTELOS, CellCom, Carolina West, Bluegrass Cellular, Cellular One, Centennial Communications, EKN, GCI Comms, Illinois Valley Cellular, Immix, Inland Cellular, Nex-Tech, Revol, United Wireless, and West Central Wireless.

When can I vote?

The toll-free and text message voting windows for all vote episodes are as follows:

State / zone Voting window

Eastern (incl. Puerto Rico) 8.55 - 11pm ET

Central 7.55 - 10pm CT

Mountain 7.55 - 10pm MT

Pacific (incl. Alaska) 8.55 - 11pm PT

Hawaii 7.55 - 10pm AT

All times are local to the location listed/time zone specified. Outside of these times the toll-free lines will play a busy signal and your call will not count as a vote. Likewise, if you send a text message vote outside of these times, you'll get a text message back letting you know that voting is closed.

The online voting windows for all vote episodes are as follows:

State / zone Voting window

All regions 5:55 pm PT/ 8:55pm ET Wednesdays – 9:00 am PT/ 12 noon ET each Thursday

What if my favorite act has already been put through to the next round by the judges?

During most episodes of Live To Dance the judges will select certain acts to automatically advance to the next stage and not be up for the public vote. The judges pick will be revealed towards the end of the show before the voting begins. Once an act has been selected by the judges to advance, you will not be able to vote for them and their vote information will not appear during the recap at the end of the show. If an act who performed 4th is advanced by the judges, only numbers for acts 1 to 3 and 5 to 6 will appear in the recap. Do not try voting for the act already advanced to the next stage.

How many times can I vote?

During the valid vote windows (see the ‘When Can I Vote?' question) you may vote up to 10 times per originating phone number via toll-free telephone voting, up to 10 times per originating phone number via text message voting and up to 25 times per e-mail address when voting online. Any additional votes you attempt to cast above these limits will NOT count. The producers reserve the right to disqualify, block or remove any votes from any individual who votes by any electronic, mechanical or automated means, or otherwise tampers with the vote process. Rules and procedures are subject to change at the producers' sole discretion without notice.

How much does it cost to vote?

Telephone calls to the Live To Dance voting lines are toll-free from landlines. If you use a wireless phone to call, airtime and applicable roaming and long distance charges may apply. Contact your cell phone service provider if you want to know how much you will be charged. Text message votes are subject to standard text messaging charges and therefore message and data rates may apply. Voting online is free except for your normal internet access charges.

Can I vote using my cell phone?

Yes, you can vote using a cell phone, although airtime and applicable roaming charges will apply to toll-free numbers called from wireless phones. Contact your cell phone service provider if you want to know how much you will be charged. Also, you can vote via text message your votes are subject to standard text messaging charges and therefore message and data rates may apply.

What will I hear if I call the toll-free numbers?

Voting opens just before the end of the show – if you call before then you will hear a busy signal and your vote will not count. Voting via toll-free remains open for up to 2 hours after the show, subject to local time zone and broadcast feed limitations (see the ‘When can I vote?' question). During each vote window, the phone message will confirm the act for whom you have voted. During the vote window, the phone message will confirm your vote has been received. You will hear the thanks for voting message even after you have exceeded your 10 vote limit but any votes beyond the 10 vote limit will NOT be counted. The toll-free and text numbers allocated to each act are directly related to the order in which they perform on the show. After the voting window closes, no additional votes will be accepted and lines will play a busy signal

I couldn't get through to the lines or all I get is a fast busy signal or other message when I call – why?

Although the telephone network is designed to handle huge volumes of calls simultaneously, there may be times (particularly just after the show ends) when it will not be able to handle every single call due to the sheer volume. If you are calling during the voting window but can't get through to cast your vote, be patient and try again.

If you are calling from a cell phone with an area code that is in a different time zone from that in which you are calling, the system will accept or reject your vote based on the time zone of your cell phone's area code. So, for example, if you have a New York cell phone area code but are calling from Los Angeles, you will be voting outside the East Coast voting window and your vote will not be accepted. Try calling again from a landline phone during the West Coast vote window.

If you are sure you are calling within the voting window but still can't get through, it may be that your local phone company has been flooded with calls. Try waiting a few minutes before calling again as you have up to 2 hours after the show to vote via toll-free and text message and until 9:00 am PT/ 12 noon ET each Thursday to vote online. If you still have problems, contact your local phone company.

Can I vote if I subscribe to a digital phone service or VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) service?

Yes, you can vote if you subscribe to some digital or internet-based phone systems, such as Vonage or Skype. However, note that digital phone and VOIP services often re-route outgoing calls to a different geographical location from which the call is being made. As a result, you may only be able to vote in the voting window applicable to the geographical location to which your call has been re-routed. If you are trying to vote in the regular voting window for your region and your call is re-routed outside of your region by your service provider, you will not be able to vote (instead, you will hear a fast busy signal). However, you still have the ability to vote during the voting window for the re-routed region, or you can vote via text messaging or vote online. For further information, contact your digital phone or VOIP service provider.

Voting by text messaging on your cell phone - What is Text Messaging/SMS?

Text Messaging – sometimes known as SMS (short messaging service) - is a way of communicating short text messages via your cell phone. Most, but not all, handsets have this feature. For Live To Dance, viewers have the ability to vote by text message using their cell phone keypad to write the number that corresponds to the act (e.g. 1 for act 1, 2 for act 2 etc.) to the number 97979. Only send the number to the short code numbers you see on screen; you cannot send a text message to the toll-free numbers. You may vote up to 10 times by text message. Message and data rates may apply. To get help with voting by SMS, text HELP to 97979, or email info@telescope.tv. To cancel, send STOP to 97979.

How do I vote using text messaging?

As with the toll-free voting, each act will also be assigned his or her own text keyword during the show – the number will appear on your TV screen alongside the toll-free phone numbers. To vote by text, simply watch Live To Dance on CBS, input the number assigned to the act (e.g. 1 for act 1, 2 for act 2 etc.) into a new text message on your cell phone and send this message to the short code 97979. Only send the number to the short code numbers you see on screen, you cannot send a text message to the toll-free numbers. If done correctly, you will receive a message confirming each valid vote you cast during the voting window. You will receive a message stating you have exceeded the limit if you try vote more than 10 times.

Text message voting will open at the end of the show and stay open for 2 hours per time zone region (see the ‘When Can I vote' question). Voting will NOT be open outside the vote window and votes sent outside of the voting window will be invalid, and you will receive a message saying voting is closed.

Is the text messaging vote system the same as the toll-free system?

The design of the text voting is exactly the same as the toll-free voting system in terms of open/close times. The last digit of the act numbers will also be the same. If you wish to vote for act 2, for example, you can either call 1 855 LIVE TO 2 / 1 855 548 3862) or wireless subscribers can text the number 2 to 97979. Remember to send the number to the short code numbers you see on screen; you cannot send a text message to the toll-free numbers.

Who can vote using text messaging?

Text message voting is only available to subscribers with two-way text messaging capable handsets. Subscribers from the following carriers are eligible for voting: AT&T, Verizon Wireless, Sprint, T-Mobile, Nextel, Boost, Alltel, U.S. Cellular, Virgin Mobile, Dobson, Cincinnati Bell, Cellular South, NTELOS, CellCom, Carolina West, Bluegrass Cellular, Cellular One, Centennial Communications, EKN, GCI Comms, Illinois Valley Cellular, Immix, Inland Cellular, Nex-Tech, Revol, United Wireless, and West Central Wireless. Subscribers from the above carriers and with area codes from within the Continental US, Hawaii, Alaska and Puerto Rico can cast their text votes for the Live To Dance acts. If you are not a cellular subscriber, you can vote using the standard toll-free phone numbers or vote online at www.CBS.com instead.

When I tried to vote, my handset said 'message not sent' - why?

Like the toll-free voting, the text messaging network is designed to handle huge volumes of votes simultaneously. There may be times (particularly just after the show ends) when it will not be able to handle every message due to network congestion. When this happens, ‘message not sent' may appear on your handset. Please be patient and try again later as you will have up to 2 hours after the show per region to cast your vote(s).

How will I know if my text message vote was counted?

Voting opens just before the end of the show – if you text in your vote before then you will get a message back telling you that the vote windows are closed and your vote will not count. There is a limit of 10 text message votes per cell phone number. If you are texting during the valid vote window you will get a confirmation message back thanking you for your vote. Any votes made after your 10th text message will NOT be counted and you will receive a message stating you have exceeded your 10 vote limit. Message and data rates apply for each text message you send and receive. The act numbers are directly related to the order in which they perform on the show. After the voting window closes, no additional votes will be accepted.

Can I vote using a payphone?

Votes from payphones will be blocked. To vote for your favorite act, use a standard landline or cell phone, or vote online. Charges may apply when using your cell phone.

How do I vote on the internet?

Internet voting will be open during the times stated above (see the When can I vote? section). To vote, log on to www.CBS.com and follow the instructions to vote. You need to become a registered user of cbs.com in order to vote. There is no cost to become a registered user of cbs.com. Select the act for whom you wish to vote from the list provided. If done correctly, you will get a message on your screen thanking you for voting. You may vote up to 25 times online – any attempts over 25 will not count even if you keep submitting votes. Outside of the vote window, the online vote page will not appear and you will not be able to cast your vote.

How do I find out the results?

The results will be revealed during the subsequent Live To Dance shows on CBS. Check your local listings for show times.