A&E CAKE DYNASTY CONTEST
OFFICIAL RULES

NO PURCHASE REQUIRED TO ENTER OR RECEIVE A PRIZE. A PURCHASE DOES NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.

These Official Rules apply to the A&E CAKE DYNASTY CONTEST (“Contest”) conducted by A&E Television Networks LLC, 235 E. 45th Street, New York, NY 10017, (“Sponsor”). The Contest will start at 12:00am EST on November 4, 2023 and will end at 11:59pm EST on November 25, 2023 (the “Contest Period”). Sponsor’s designated computer is the official time keeping device for all aspects of the Contest. By entering this Contest, you agree to the terms set forth in these in Official Rules.

1. CONTEST ENTRANTS AND PRIZE RECIPIENTS MUST BE BOTH (A) LEGAL RESIDENTS OF ONE OF THE FIFTY UNITED STATES OR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, AND (B) AGED 18 YEARS OR OLDER AT THE TIME OF ENTRY TO BE ELIGIBLE. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.  CONTEST SUBJECT TO ALL APPLICABLE FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. Employees of Sponsor and its respective parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, divisions, advertising and promotion, fulfillment and/or judging agencies, and related entities (collectively, the “Related Entities”), and their immediate families are not eligible.

2. HOW TO ENTER: In order to enter the Contest during the Contest Period, you must follow @AETV on the following social media platform you elect to enter the Content through:  Instagram, Twitter, Facebook or TikTok (collectively, the “Platforms’), and perform the following tasks:

To enter the Contest via Facebook: During the Contest Period, visit the @AETV page on Facebook and reply to the entry post, or one of two reminder posts, with a photo or video featuring a cake that has been designed and created by you.

To enter the Contest via Instagram, Twitter or TikTok: During the Contest Period, post a photo or video on your Platform account page featuring a cake that has been designed and created by you using the hashtag #CakeDynastyContest.

Each valid entry into the Contest in accordance with the terms above shall be referred to herein as an “Entry.” You must have a valid Platform account to enter the Contest and have your account privacy settings set to “Off” on Instagram or Twitter in order for the judges to see your Entry. You can modify your account settings after the winner has been announced. Potential winners may be required to show proof of being the authorized account holder of the applicable social media account associated with the Entry. Establishing an account on the Platforms is free. All Platform terms and apply.

All Entries must be received before the end of the Contest Period. Entry must be entrant’s own original work product and may not have been previously published, or won previous awards.  Only one (1) Entry per person, per Platform, regardless of method of entry. Any attempt by any entrant to submit Entries by using multiple/different email addresses, identities, registrations and logins, or any other methods will void that entrant's Entries and that entrant may be disqualified. Use of any automated system to participate is prohibited and will result in disqualification and all associated Entries will be void. All Entries become the property of Sponsor and will not be acknowledged. In the event of a dispute over the identity of an entrant, Entry will be deemed submitted by the authorized account holder of the applicable account and he/she must comply with these Official Rules. “Authorized account holder” is defined as the natural person who is assigned to is defined as the natural person who is assigned the applicable account.

Entry may not contain, as determined by the Sponsor, in its sole discretion, any content that:

• is sexually explicit or suggestive; unnecessarily violent or derogatory of any ethnic, racial, gender, religious, professional or age group; profane or pornographic; contains nudity;
• promotes alcohol, illegal drugs, tobacco, firearms/weapons (or the use of any of the foregoing); promotes any activities that may appear unsafe or dangerous; promotes any particular political agenda or message;
• is obscene or offensive; endorses any form of hate or hate group;
• appears to duplicate any other submitted Entries;
• defames, misrepresents or contains disparaging remarks about Sponsor, its products, or services or other people or companies;
• contains prominent use of trademarks, logos, or trade dress (such as distinctive packaging or building exteriors/interiors) owned by others, without permission, to the extent permission is deemed necessary;
• contains any personal identification, such as license plate numbers, personal names, e-mail addresses or street addresses;
• contains prominent use of copyrighted materials owned by others (including photographs, sculptures, paintings, and other works of art or images published on or in websites, television, movies or other media), without permission, to the extent permission to deemed necessary;
• contains materials embodying the names, likenesses, voices, or other indicia identifying any person, including, without limitation, celebrities and/or other public or private figures, living or dead, without permission;
• contains look-alikes of celebrities or other public or private figures, living or dead;
• communicates messages or images inconsistent with the positive images and/or good will to which Sponsor wishes to associate; and/or
• violates any law.

By submitting your Entry, entrant agrees that Entry conforms to these Official Rules and that Sponsor, in its sole discretion, may disqualify any Entry for any reason, including if it determines, in its sole discretion, that the Entry fails to conform to these Official Rules in any way or otherwise contains unacceptable content as determined by Sponsor, in its sole discretion.

3. PRIZES. Prizes cannot be redeemed for cash and may not be transferred or substituted, except at the Sponsor’s sole discretion. Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a prize (or portion thereof) of comparable or greater value in the event the stated prize is unavailable. Prize is awarded “as is” with no warranty or guarantee, either express or implied. All fees, federal, provincial, state, local taxes (including, without limitation, income and withholding taxes) or other costs and expenses relating to the use, acceptance and possession of prize not specified herein as being provided are the sole responsibility of the winner. An IRS form 1099 will be awarded in the name of any winner who is a resident of the United States for the retail value of the prize if the prize is valued at $600 USD or higher. Total ARV of prize pool is valued at Six Thousand Dollars ($6,000). Limit one (1) prize per person.

ONE (1) GRAND PRIZE WINNER. Grand Prize package includes round trip, coach-class air transportation for the Grand Prize Winner and a guest from a major airport near winner’s home (determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion) to New York, New York; two (2) nights' accommodations at a hotel determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion (one (1) room, double occupancy); a tour Buddy Valastro’s Carlo’s Bakery HQ in Jersey City, New Jersey, a Carlo’s Bakery prize pack; a gift card for a New York City dinner (all gift card terms and conditions apply), and round trip ground transportation for all Grand Prize package elements. All travel arrangements will be made through Sponsor’s agent. Winner must travel on the dates determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion or Grand Prize will be forfeited. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Sponsor will make reasonable efforts to select travel dates acceptable to the Grand Prize Winner. Trip must be booked at least twenty-one (21) days prior to departure. Travel and accommodations are subject to availability and blackout dates. Travel must be round trip. Sponsor will determine airline and flight itinerary in its sole discretion. No refund or compensation will be made in the event of the cancellation or delay of any flight. Travel is subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Contest, and those set forth by the Sponsor’s airline carrier of choice as detailed in the passenger ticket contract. All expenses and incidental travel costs associated with prize acceptance and use not expressly stated in the package description above, including but not limited to, ground transportation, meals, incidentals, gratuities, baggage fees, passenger tariffs or duties, airline fees, surcharges, airport fees, service charges or facility charges, personal charges at lodging, security fees, taxes or other expenses are the responsibility solely of winner. Travel companion must be eighteen (18) years of age or older as of the date of departure.  If winner is at least 18 but still considered a minor in his/her state of residence, travel companion must be winner’s parent/legal guardian.  Travel companion must execute liability/publicity release prior to issuance of travel documents. Travel restrictions, conditions and limitations may apply.  If in the judgment of Sponsor air travel is not required due to winner’s proximity to prize location, ground transportation will be substituted for round trip air travel at Sponsor’s sole discretion and no compensation or substitution will be provided for difference in prize value. Sponsor will not replace any lost, mutilated, or stolen tickets, travel vouchers or certificates. Actual value may vary based on airfare fluctuations and distance between departure and destination. Winner will not receive difference between actual and approximate retail value.

TWO (2) SECOND PLACE WINNERS. Second place winners will receive a gift box of Buddy Valastro Cake Dynasty prizes.

Sponsor is not responsible for computer system, phone line, technical, hardware, software or program failures of any kind, lost or unavailable network connections, incomplete, garbled or delayed computer transmission or network connections that are human or technical in nature. Use of automated devices is not valid for entry. Sponsor is not responsible for incorrect or inaccurate entry information, whether caused by Internet users or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in this Contest or by any technical or human error which may occur in the processing of the entries in this Contest. With regard to Mailed Entries, no photocopies or mechanically reproduced entries permitted. Sponsor is not responsible for any lost, late, delayed, illegible, incomplete, mutilated, postage due, or misdirected entries. Incomplete, unreadable, inaccurate, unintelligible or late entries or entries which otherwise do not comply with these Official Rules will be disqualified. All entries, upon submission, become the property of the Sponsor and will not be acknowledged or returned and the Sponsor has the right to dispose of the Entries at Sponsor’s discretion. Sponsor reserves the right to, in its sole discretion, cancel, modify or suspend the online portion of this Contest (or the entire Contest) should any computer virus, bugs or other technical difficulty or other causes beyond the control of the Sponsor corrupt the administration, security or proper play of the Contest, at which time, the judging of entries will be conducted as described below in Section 3.

By submitting an Entry, you warrant and represent that the Entry is original and was created solely by you, that the Entry does not incorporate any material owned by any third party, and that use of the Entry as described herein will not violate any law or infringe upon the rights of any third party.  If, in the opinion of the judges and/or Sponsor and/or at the sole discretion of the Sponsor, the Entry violates any law or infringes upon the rights of any third party, is inaccurate, illegible, incomplete, or irregular in any way, or otherwise does not comply with the Official Rules, the Sponsor may disqualify the Entry.  Sponsor is not responsible for Entries that are processed late or incorrectly or those that are lost or damaged due to computer or electronic malfunction or other error.  This Contest may be cancelled in the event an insufficient number of qualified Entries are received that do not meet the minimum standards established by the judges.

4. DETERMINATION OF WINNERS AND JUDGING CRITERIA: Following the conclusion of the Contest Period, all eligible Entries received will be judged by Buddy Valastro and a panel of qualified judges based on the following equally weighted criteria (the “Criteria”):

• Design Creativity (20 pts): Cake design is unique and demonstrates an innovative concept as well as the decorator’s ability to take risks in order to surprise and delight.

• Attention To Detail (20 pts): The finer elements of the cake’s decorations, such as piping work, precise figurines, sugar flowers, or other small embellishments should be of high quality.

• Use of Color (20 pts): Colors should be used thoughtfully in order to complement the cake’s design, with precise and smooth transitions and well-blended shades contributing to a visually appealing result.

• Texture & Finish (20 pts): The texture of decorative elements, such as fondant ruffles or lace, should be skillfully executed with high precision. A cake’s surface, especially ones covered in fondant or  buttercream, should be smooth.

• Overall Presentation (20 pts): The cake should be well proportioned with an appropriate size and shape for its design. Other elements such as cake boards, stands or display props, and photo/video composition will be taken into consideration for the overall presentation of the cake.

The three (3) Entries that receive the highest score(s) will be deemed the potential winner(s). Buddy Valastro shall select the grand prize winner from the three (3) highest scores.  In the event of a tie, a tie-breaker judge will judge the tied Entries using the Criteria to determine the winner(s). Sponsor reserves the right to not award all prizes if, in its sole discretion, it does not receive a sufficient number of eligible and qualified Entries. If a prize winner notification or a prize is returned as undeliverable, a prize winner is ineligible, or a prize winner declines a prize, the prize will be awarded to the next highest scoring entry.  Sponsor’s decisions on all matters relating to this Contest are final and binding in all respects pertaining to this Contest.  All Prizes will be awarded provided a sufficient number of eligible entries are received.  All decisions of the Sponsor and judges are final and binding.  Sponsor will not reveal the judging scores for any Entry.

5. WINNER NOTIFICATION: The potential winners will be notified via the email they provided at entry or via his/her Platform account used for entry within two (2) days of the winner selection. If a potential prize winner does not respond to the winner notification email (email will be sent three (3) times over a seven (7) day period) within seven (7) days of receipt of the final email sent), or if said email is returned as undeliverable, or if the potential prize winner does not return the notification or, if applicable, fails to correctly answer the mathematical skill-testing question, or if an entrant is otherwise found to be ineligible, does not provide required information, or if the selected winner cannot accept or receive the prize for any reason, the potential prize winner will forfeit the prize and an alternate winner may, in the sole discretion of the Sponsor and time permitting, be notified. The Sponsor reserves the right to modify the notification procedures in connection with the selection of an alternate winner. Winners must agree to sign  an Affidavit of Eligibility and Liability and Publicity Release, to provide proof of identity at the nominated prize delivery address and/or proof of entry validity in a time period to be specified by Sponsor in order to claim a prize. Proof of identification, residency, age and entry considered suitable for verification is at the discretion of Sponsor. In the event that the winner does not return all required documents within the specified time period or cannot provide suitable proof, the winner will forfeit the prize in whole and no substitute will be offered. All decisions and results of Sponsor are final and binding. If a winner is at least 18 but still considered a minor in his/her jurisdiction of residence, Sponsor reserves the right to award the prize to his/her parent or legal guardian and/or require his/her parent or legal guardian sign all required paperwork and otherwise fulfill all requirements imposed on entrant set forth herein. Sponsor is not responsible for fraudulent calls or e-mails made to entrants not by the Sponsor.

6. INTERNET: If for any reason this Contest is not capable of running as planned due to an infection by a computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes beyond the control of the Sponsor which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of this Contest, the Sponsor reserves the right at its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual who tampers with the entry process, and to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Contest. The Sponsor assumes no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, communications line failure, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to, or alteration of, entries. The Sponsor is not responsible for any problems or technical malfunctions of any telephone network or telephone lines, computer on-line systems, servers, or providers, computer equipment, software, failure of any e-mail or entry to be received by the Sponsor due to technical problems, human error or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any Web site, or any combination thereof, including any injury or damage to participant’s or any other person’s computer relating to or resulting from participating in this Contest or downloading any materials in this Contest.  SPONSOR IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR INCOMPATIBILITY OF ENTRANT’S HARDWARE, SOFTWARE OR BROWSER TECHNOLOGY WITH SPONSOR’S HARDWARE, SOFTWARE OR BROWSER TECHNOLOGY. CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE ANY WEB SITE OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE CONTEST IS A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, THE SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES OR OTHER REMEDIES FROM ANY SUCH PERSON(S) RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ATTEMPT TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW. In the event of a dispute as to the identity or eligibility of a winner based on an e-mail address, the winning entry will be declared made by the “Authorized Account Holder” of the e-mail address at time of entry. “Authorized Account Holder” is defined as the natural person 18 years of age or older who is assigned to an e-mail address by an Internet access provider, on-line service provider, or other organization (e.g., business, education institution, etc.) that is responsible for assigning e-mail addresses for the domain associated with the submitted e-mail address. Sponsor may ask any entrant or potential winner to provide Sponsor with proof that such party is the authorized account holder of the email account associated with the entry.

7. LIABILITY & RELEASE: By participating in this Contest, entrants and winners agree to release and hold harmless Sponsor and the Related Entities (collectively, the Released Entities”) from and against any claim or cause of action arising out of participation in the Contest or receipt or use of any prize hereunder, including, but not limited to: (a) unauthorized human intervention in the Contest; (b) technical errors related to computers, servers, providers, or telephone or network lines; (c) printing errors; (d) lost, late, postage-due, misdirected, or undeliverable mail; (e) errors in the administration of the Contest or the processing of entries; or (f) injury or death to a person(s) or damage to property which may be result, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part,  from entrant’s participation in the Contest or entrants receipt, acceptance, use and/or enjoyment of any prize, including but not limited to travel and lodging portions of any prize. In no event shall the Released Entities be liable for attorney’s Entrant waives the right to claim any damages whatsoever, including, but not limited to, punitive, consequential, direct, or indirect damages. In the event the Sponsor or Released Entities are prevented from continuing with this Contest, or the integrity and/or feasibility of the Contest is undermined by any event including but not limited to fire, flood, epidemic, earthquake, explosion, labor dispute, or strike, act of God or public enemy, satellite or equipment failure, riot or civil disturbance, war (declared or undeclared), terrorist threat or activity, or any federal, state, provincial or local government law, order of regulation, order of any court or jurisdiction, or other cause not reasonably within the Sponsor’s or Released Entities’ control (each a “Force Majeure” event)  the Sponsor and Released Entities shall have the right, in their sole discretion, to abbreviate, modify, suspend, cancel or terminate the Contest without notice or further obligation. If the Sponsor or Released Entities, in their discretion, elect to abbreviate, cancel or terminate the Contest as a result of a Force Majeure event, the Sponsor and Released Entities reserve the right, but shall have no obligation, to award the prize from among all valid and eligible entries received up to the time of such Force Majeure event.

8. GENERAL: By entering this Contest, entrants and prize winners: (a) agree to be bound by these Official Rules; (b) consent to the use of their  names, voices, pictures, prize won, hometown, comments about winning, and likeness for advertising and promotional purposes for three (3) years from the date the winner was confirmed as a winner without additional compensation, notification, permission or approval, and (c) acknowledge that the Released Entities have neither made nor are responsible or liable for any warranty, representation, or guarantee, express or implied, in fact or in law, relative to any prize, including but not limited to its quality, mechanical condition, or fitness for a particular purpose. Sponsor may discontinue this Contest at any time. Sponsor may terminate any Contest or decide to modify it in any manner that it deems fair and equitable to participants if it becomes aware of any occurrence that would materially affect the Contest’s’ security and fairness.  Sponsor may prohibit individuals from participating in Contest and disqualify entries if they (1) attempt to enter the Contest through any means other than as described in these Official Rules, (2) attempt to disrupt the Contest or circumvent the terms and conditions of these Official Rules in any way or (3) repeatedly show a disregard for the Contest Official Rules or act (y) in an unsportsmanlike manner, or (z) with an intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other entrant or Sponsor.  Sponsor’s decisions with respect to the Contest are final.

9. NO AFFILIATION. This Contest is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by the Platforms. You understand that you are providing information to Sponsor and not to the Platforms.  Any questions, comments or complaints regarding the Contest must be directed to Sponsor and not to the Platforms.

10. WINNERS LIST: To obtain a List of Winners, (available after) 30-days from end of the Contest Period, or a copy of the Official Rules, send a self-addressed, stamped #10 envelope to be received by February 23, 2024 to: A&E Television Networks, LLC 235 E. 45th Street, New York, NY 10017. Please specify "Official Rules" or "Winners List".

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