BT pushes broadband goals through soccer competition

Can the silky footballing skills of boy band Blue generate interest in broadband? BT hopes so.

The telco said this week that it is looking to drive broadband awareness among consumers by sponsoring the celebrity Soccer Six tournament.

Soccer Six is a charitable event that supports The Prince's Trust, and it will kick off on 5 May 2, 2003 at St. James' Park in Newcastle, followed by appearances later this month in Liverpool and London. It will involve pop stars, TV celebrities and several former professional footballers.

By sponsoring the event, BT hopes to make more people aware of the benefits of high-speed Internet access.

A spokesman explained that sporting content is proving increasingly popular among BT's broadband customers -- which is one reason why the Soccer Six Web site is being re-launched to include streaming video footage of the event.

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