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NEW YORK -- Ozzy Osbourne may be all the rage on MTV, but when it comes to advice, more Americans want to turn to their own dad than any other.
In an independent survey conducted for Verizon in advance of Father's Day this Sunday, more than 50 percent of Americans say they would turn to their own dad for guidance rather than ask others, including the well-known singer. If dad wasn't available, the survey indicates Americans would be most likely to call up comedian Bill Cosby.
However, "your own dad" won by a landslide with 58.7 percent; Cosby followed with 15.5 percent; basketball star Michael Jordan had 6.3 percent; Osbourne had 4 percent and Ward Cleaver, the fictitious dad played by Hugh Beaumont on the 1950s TV show "Leave It to Beaver," followed with 3.5 percent.
"Dads across the country should rest easy. While most dads may not have their own television series or be a famous athlete, when their children want someone to call for advice, they want their dads on the other end of the phone," said Jill Wagner, vice president, Consumer Marketing for Verizon.
On the other hand, it may be that Americans are also more likely to call dad when they need something specific. Father's Day calling traditionally falls short of the volume of calls made on Mother's Day.
Verizon expects to handle more than 975 million calls this Sunday -- up from 892 million on a normal Sunday -- from children of all ages to dads nationwide. This past Mother's Day, Verizon processed more than 985 million calls, a 10 percent increase over a normal Sunday.
"Whether it is your dad or a famous dad, don't forget to call him this Sunday for Father's Day," said Wagner.
Verizon has 8.4 million long-distance customers in 42 states. Verizon hopes to receive Federal Communications Commission approval to begin offering long-distance service in Maine and New Jersey by the end of the month.
The independent survey of 2,000 randomly selected adults was conducted by Wilson Research Strategies from June 8 through June 11. The results have a margin of error of +/- 2.2 percent.
SURVEY QUESTION:
Verizon asked 2,000 Americans the following question:
"Which Dad would you rather call to ask for advice, for a loan, or to fix a flat tire?"
- Ozzy Osbourne
- Ward Cleaver
- Bill Cosby
- Michael Jordan
- Your own dad
Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) is one of the world's leading providers of communications services. Verizon companies are the largest providers of wireline and wireless communications in the United States, with 133.8 million access line equivalents and approximately 29.6 million wireless customers. Verizon is also the largest directory publisher in the world. With more than $67 billion in annual revenues and nearly 248,000 employees, Verizon's global presence extends to more than 40 countries in the Americas, Europe, Asia and the Pacific. For more information on Verizon, visit www.verizon.com.
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