Motherwell hit the net

Motherwell FC today launches a broadband internet service, giving fans their own club email address and access to exclusive online content. This reflects the start of a growing trend among Scottish football clubs following the recent announcement of Hearts Broadband.

Motherwell FC believes email addresses such as terry.butcher@motherwell-fc.co.uk, no1fan@motherwell-fc.co.uk and mcbride17@motherwell-fc.co.uk will be among the most popular, with fans keen to demonstrate their love of the club when communicating with friends and family.

The launch of Motherwell FC Broadband represents a challenge to established consumer broadband providers such as AOL and BT. Viatel, the communications company that is providing Motherwell FC Broadband is rolling out this service to other football clubs and sporting organisations. In addition to Hearts, Manchester United and Premiership Champions Chelsea have both recently launched similar services. Between them, the two leading English clubs have over 14 million fans in the UK, representing around one fifth of the total UK population.

Lucy Woods, Viatel CEO, says, "We believe the provision of broadband services by Scottish football clubs will be a key driver in the uptake and renewal of broadband services. The launch of Motherwell FC Broadband proves that this service is applicable to any sporting organisation no matter what size. The driving factor is fan loyalty. In the future, we hope to offer fans additional services such as internet telephony and virtual community features."

Motherwell FC Broadband costs £28.99 per month and offers supporters up to five personal club email addresses and a 2Mb high-speed internet connection with unlimited monthly downloads. Fans will also receive a free year's subscription to Sky Sports Broadband, giving them access to highlights of the Premiership and UEFA Champions League plus Soccer AM, golf, rugby and other top sports.

"The attraction of Motherwell FC Broadband is that it gives fans another channel to access exclusive content when they can't make it to Fir Park," says Russell Roger, General Manager Motherwell FC. "The ability to download highlights and have a personal club email address will be a great attraction to our fans."

For fans interested in signing up for an email and broadband service for their football club, Viatel has launched a web site, www.fastfooty.com, where they can register their interest. For any club that has over 1000 interested supporters, Viatel will be able to make a strong business case to the respective football club.

There are over 50,000 new broadband subscribers every week. Football fans, who alone make up 45 per cent of this market, want access to great exclusive content and the ability to download it quickly.

Notes to the editor:

According to figures from Sky, ten top UK football clubs already have video streaming services with over 650,000 registered subscribers. These subscribers represent over 10 percent of the UK broadband market. With over 50,000 new broadband subscribers signing up every week, and with many more football clubs expected to launch similar services, Viatel expects that fans' broadband could become a key driver for the take-up of broadband services in the UK. Estimates for total UK broadband subscriptions by the end of 2005 are forecast to be 8 million households (32 percent of the population).

*Figures are quoted from the MORI Sports Tracker Report 2005.

About the Service:

The high-speed 2 megabyte service with unlimited downloads and a free modem costs £28.99 per month and has a one-off connection charge of £50. Subscribers receive up to five free email addresses (your.name@motherwell-fc.co.uk) and free Sky Sports Broadband for one year giving access highlights of the Premiership and UEFA Champions League plus Soccer AM, golf, rugby and other top sports. To order call 0870 609 0008 or go to https://broadband.motherwell-fc.co.uk/.

About Viatel

Viatel is a Pan-European Telecoms Service Provider and ISP. It provides IP and connectivity services to customers of all sizes across Europe. Viatel has been in business since 1991 and owns and operates a 72 fibre network across Europe.

For further information and photography please contact:

Nick Rappolt

Credo Communications

08704112531

Nick.rappolt@credocomms.co.uk

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