Sekret Uspekha

There were four stages to the competition:

• Stage 1: Auditions
• Stage 2: Bootcamp
• Stage 3: Visits to judges' homes
• Stage 4: Live shows (finals)

The competition is split into three categories: vocal groups (including duos), solo singers aged 16–24, and solo singers aged 25 and over. There is, however, only one final winner.

In the initial weeks of the show, public auditions are held at various locations across Russia. Each act enters the audition room (often after waiting for hours), and delivers a stand-up unaccompanied performance of their chosen song to the three judges. If at least two of the four judges say "yes" then the act goes through to the next stage.

These auditions attract large numbers of hopefuls. Only a small selection of auditions are broadcast – usually the best, the worst and the most bizarre. Much like Pop Idol, many acts face harsh criticism from the judges.

After all auditions are complete, each of the three judges is allocated a category to mentor (supposedly at random). The contestants who survived stage one are then further refined through a series of performances at "boot camp" and at the judges' homes, until a small number eventually progress to the live finals.

In the live shows, each act performs a new song or songs each week in front of an auditorium audience as well as the judges. The songs chosen are usually pop standards or contemporary hits. Members of the public vote on the acts by telephone or text message, and this, in combination with the judges' opinions, determines which act is dismissed. The contestants are whittled away week by week until the winner eventually emerges.

In each season, each judge is allocated a category to mentor and chooses three acts to progress to the live shows. This table shows, for each season, which category each judge was allocated and which acts he or she put through to the live shows.

Key:

  – Winning judge/category. Winners are in bold, eliminated contestants in small font.

The first season was broadcast in late 2005. The judges were Valeriy Meladze, Katerina Von Gechmen-Valdek and Aleksandr Revzin, and the show was hosted by Aleksey Chumakov and Yelena Vorobey. The winner of the first season in 2005 was Vladimir Sapovsky, with Yevgeniya Otradnaya as runner-up.

The second and final season was broadcast in 2007 and won by Nikolay Timokhin, with Ilya Vasilyev as runner-up. Next to Valery Meladze two new judges took sat: Tigran Keosayan and Valery Garkalin.

• Faktor A

• Секрет Успеха Official Site (in Russian)