America's Got Talent (often abbreviated as AGT) is an American talent show competition, and is part of the Got Talent franchise. It premiered on June 21, 2006, after plans for a British edition in 2005 were suspended, following a dispute within the British broadcaster ITV. The program attracts a variety of participants from across the United States and abroad, who possess some form of talents. Each year's competition begins with a set of audition stages, the first stage being "Producers' Auditions" Auditions are held in various cities across the U.S. and the next stage of auditions are attended by an independent group of independent judges.