Apr 14, 2008 6:02 AM, PROMO Xtra

H.J. Heinz Co. has whittled down its search for the next user-generated commercial contest to 10 finalists, and is asking the public to help choose the winner.

Visitors to http://www.TopThisTV.com can watch the finalists’ videos and select their favorite in the Heinz Ketchup “Top This TV Challenge Take Two” contest by voting online. Votes can be cast once per day through April 21.

The top vote getter will receive $57,000 and a 30-second commercial spot for their winning ad to air later this summer television. Four runner-up ads also will air on national television. Each of those winners will receive $5,700.

Entrants had to submit a 30-second Heinz Ketchup commercial via YouTube.com that had little criteria other than to make something that people would want to watch on TV.

Heinz received more than 2,000 entries in the contest between December and March. The promotion follows a similar one the firm launched last year. The company received more than 4,000 entries under the original contest.

Online marketing supports the promotion. Edelman handles PR for Heinz.

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