PGA-Viatel partnership leads the field in digital age

The Professional Golfers Association (PGA) have today (Monday 26th September, 2005) announced their partnership with Viatel, in a three year deal to supply golf club professionals and the golfing community with their own broadband service complete with live and exclusive content.

The service will be available from November 15th 2005, and will be packaged for sale through 4,500 PGA club pros to club members and other golfers across the country, with an estimated market of over five million.

The service will be launched as PGA Broadband and content will be produced by In the Box Media. It will include live and on-demand content that will be as close to TV broadcast quality over the internet as any provider has yet developed, with streamed video bit-rates reaching up to 800kbps.

The exclusive content package will include; newsfeeds, interviews with tour professionals, coaching and lessons; all of which can be viewed on-demand. Other features will include equipment advice, and test drives of the latest clubs by PGA Professionals, travel deals, recommendations on golf destinations and betting tips.

Mike Gray, PGA Commercial Director, said: "This is a major step forward for the PGA, we had already created PGA pro.tv but felt we needed our own platform to be able to provide this service to our members. It makes great sense to enter into a partnership with both Viatel and In the Box Media, both of whom have extensive expertise in the virtual media business."

Viatel Broadband Limited is already working in partnership with major football clubs in supplying a broadband service, including; Manchester United, Chelsea FC in England and Hibernian, Hearts and Motherwell in Scotland.

Lucy Wood's, CEO Viatel, said; "We are pleased to be working with the PGA on this new venture. Together we will lead the way in the provision of broadband services bundled with unique and exclusive golf content from a brand that golfers know and trust. We are delighted to extend our ability to offer sports fans uniquely tailored content that appeals directly to the individual's passion for their club or sport."

There are over 24 million households in the UK, of which 99.6% are ready for DSL broadband. Currently 13 million of those have internet access, with up to 40% already on broadband and the remaining eight million still on dial up.

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26th September, 2005

For further information about the service please contact stephanie.harwood@viatel.com or phone on 07768-735557, or for information regarding the PGA contact mike.gray@PGA.org.uk. To talk to In the Box Media please contact peter.lewinton@teamtalkmedia.com.

About the service:

A high-speed 2 meg service with unlimited downloads. Subscribers also get up to five free email addresses, online safety features and all content included.

About Viatel:

Viatel is a Pan-European Telecoms Service Provider and ISP. It provides IP and connectivity services to business customers of all sizes across Europe, and also specialises in next generation internet services for sports fans. Viatel has been in business since 1991 and owns and operates a 72 fibre network across Europe.

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