LONDON, Thursday 18th MArch 2010: Look out Londoners… as the 12th annual Gumball 3000 Rally from London to New York is about to begin!

Attracting ‘rock stars’ to ‘royalty’, the entry grid of over 100 amazing cars and 250 participants in this year’s Gumball Rally is nothing short of spectacular. From Hollywood icons, David ‘The Hoff’ Hasselhoff and Michael Madsen (Kill Bill, Reservoir Dogs) to music legends Xzibit, Cypress Hill’s DJ Muggs, Jade Jagger and her Jezebel entourage, British actors Tamer Hassan (The Business, Dead Man Running), to skateboard god Tony Hawk, MTV’s outrageous Dirty Sanchez boys Pritchard and Joycey, and ‘SLIPS’ presenter Huey Morgan – Gumball has it all.

Gumball 3000 always has a spectacular selection of super cars and this year’s no different, showcasing Bugatti Veyrons, Ferrari’s, Lamborghini’s, Aston Martins, Rolls Royces, Bentleys, to Low Riders and classic American muscle cars. With event sponsors including lifestyle sportswear brand Puma providing ‘Gumball 3000 Edition’ driving shoes, Monster Energy supplying the drinks, Nixon creating unique timepieces, Incipio providing the technical survival kit for modern living and Betsafe.com creating the excitement of gambling – this eight-day ‘road trip’ is certain to live up to all expectations of being a stylish, adrenaline fuelled adventure.

During the evening of Friday 30th April festivities will begin with the ‘VIP’ launch party at the Crypt on Trafalgar Square, with exclusive performances by a surprise line up of guest musicians and DJs.

The following day, on Saturday 1st May get yourself to Waterloo Place and Pall Mall for a “free” day of Gumball entertainment before the flag drops at 2pm as the cars set off for New York! With over 150 amazing super, muscle, import and luxury cars on display, and a half pipe skateboard ramp demo at 1pm by skateboard legend Tony Hawk and the Gumball 3000 skate team, this is a day full of high adrenaline action not to be missed!

From London the 3000 mile route begins, including live concerts, spectacular parties and stopovers in Amsterdam, Copenhagen, and Stockholm. From Sweden all 120 vehicles and participants are flown to North America to continue on their journey, stopping in Boston, Quebec, and Toronto before crossing the finish line in New York on Times Square on Friday 7th May.

Gumball 3000 is officially working with the Make-a-Wish Foundation (UK), helping to grant the wishes of children and young people with life threatening conditions. Make-A-Wish Foundation (UK) representatives will be present throughout the event as well as partnering with Gumball 3000 at forthcoming events and fundraisers.

For daily updates go to www.gumball3000.com, and catch highlights of the action on the Gumball 3000 YouTube Channel, pumamotorsport.com, monsterenergy.com, myincipio.com, betsafe.com, nixonnow.com and if you live on route then stop whatever you’re doing, get out of the house and come along to see your favourite stars and cars roll into a city near you.

The first Gumball 3000 took place in April 1999, when founder Maximillion Cooper invited 50 friends to take part in a 3000-mile party around Europe to bring together the music, film, fashion and sport industries. Ten years later, and things have certainly grown, with crowds of over million people attending the rally last time in Europe, and a televised and online audience that reached over 60 million in over 100 countries.

Gumball 3000 consistently hits the headlines as ‘Cool Britannia’s’ most unique addition to pop culture, described by Vanity Fair Magazine as ‘the most rock ‘n’ roll car rally ever staged’ and famed for its exploits and celebrity participation. The event annually attracts stars including Oscar-winning star of the Pianist Adrien Brody, Jackass’ Johnny Knoxville, Bam Margera and Ryan Dunn, David Hasselhoff, Hugh Hefner, supermodels Jodie Kidd, Caprice and Tyson Beckford, Kill Bill’s Daryl Hannah, action sports legends Tony Hawk, Matt Hoffman, Carey Hart, and rock stars including Snoop Dogg, Travis Barker, Jamiroquai and Xzibit!

Incorporating a new 3000 mile route each year, the attraction of the Gumball 3000 transcends social barriers, appealing to the adventurer in everyone, regardless of status or wealth; combining grease, glamour and guts in equal measures, stretching the experiences of travel and entertainment – just that bit further. Over the past 10 years Gumball 3000 has been hosted by Kings and Presidents, partied with Snoop Dogg, appeared on the Jay Leno Show, raised awareness for testicular cancer, chartered the worlds 3 largest aircrafts, created untold amounts of ‘Jackass’ fuelled mayhem, hung out at Hugh Hefner’s, and most recently has been invited to work with the United Nations, all through the language of the motor car.

Go to www.gumball3000.com for the latest news, reviews, videos, apparel, art, blogs, street culture and everything automotive for the Gumball generation.

Press Contact: For further information please contact Taylor Herring PR (+44) 208 206 5151

LONDON: Wednesday 24th February 2010: Lovebox has anounced its phenomenal 2010 line-up which will include; legendary art-rock pioneers Roxy Music, music and style icon Grace Jones, hip-hop impresario Dizzee Rascal, super-producer Mark Ronson & The Business,  the massively acclaimed Empire of the Sun and beloved electro pop-juggernauts Hot Chip.

London’s premiere festival which will take place in Victoria Park from the 16th-18th July will also play host to The Maccabees, Ellie Goulding and The Noisettes at the newly expanded three day event.

FRIDAY

Headlined by Brit award-winning, Dizzee Rascal, the new Friday will showcase the very best in dance and pop including the enchanting Ellie Goulding and pop trio the Noisettes while Brighton based indie rockers The Maccabees will headline the Gaymers Stage.

Friday will also play host to some of the hippest names on the dance music scene, with Italian DJ duo Crookers making their only London festival appearance, superstar club DJ’s Brodinski and Sinden taking to the stage and arguably Europe’s hottest DJ property for 2010, Riva Starr, joining the bill. While over in the NYC Downlow, Zinc and Dynamite MC, Toddla T, MJ Cole, and 2009’s favourite producer, on a London festival exclusive, Joy Orbison will be keeping things mighty real.

SATURDAY

The Lovebox crowd will be in for a rare treat when the phenomenal Roxy Music take to the main stage on the Saturday night. Fans of the band should visit www.lovebox.net to see exclusive audio and video content released by Roxy Music to celebrate their headline spot.

Bryan Ferry said ‘There is a song on my album that I have co-written with my friends Groove Armada. They asked me if Roxy would like to perform at Lovebox. We of course thought it would be cool.’

The newly-formed Mark Ronson & the Business will be joining them on the bill, alongside the acclaimed Empire of the Sun who are playing their first ever London show.

Mark Ronson said ‘Lovebox is the first festival that ever let me perform with the Version players (my band). And to go from that memory in 2006 to playing there last year, on stage with my childhood heroes Duran Duran is really something. We will certainly do our best to make this our best Lovebox performance yet.’

Internationally renowned outfit Booka Shade headline the Relentless dance stage on Saturday and we have our own slice of Berlin in the capital in the form of Jesse Rose, Henrik Schwarz Live and Dixon (Innervisions). We are also proud to welcome an East vs West London soundclash to Lovebox, the Hip Hop and R N B crews Work It and Yo Yo will be pairing up for a proper NYC style block party!

SUNDAY

This year also sees the exciting launch of Lovebox’s groundbreaking all-new Sunday, which blends the coolest music, emergent art, cutting edge fashion and more to create an all-inclusive polysexual event unlike any other.

The immortal music and style icon known as Grace Jones will be headlining the main stage, bringing her ever revolutionary flair for subversion to Victoria Park.

Beloved electro-pop juggernauts Hot Chip will also be present and correct, fresh from the critical success of their brand new album, One Life Stand. Over on the Gaymers Stage, electro-funk duo Chromeo will be tearing up proceedings and are joined by returning Aussie heroes Cut Copy, who, in a UK festival exclusive, will be dazzling audiences with their beautiful, nostalgia streaked pop, while the glam disco machine known as Hercules and Love Affair will also be back to enthrall once more with their irrepressible, glitter-strewn music.

Also along for the ride are renowned pop provocateur Peaches, the much buzzed about and deliciously offbeat new duo Silver Columns, and moody new upstarts Hurts, who pricked up ears last year with their wonderfully dark and disturbed single Wonderful Life. Disco Bloodbath, Trailer Trash and Horse Meat Disco are just some of the DJ crews who will be hosting areas on the day.

In addition, the incomparable Jonny Woo – performance artist/entertainer nonpareil – will be compeering the main stage along with his troupe of club freaks and drag queens, which will include a unique, one-off fashion show by Dr Noki NHS. His fiercely individual, recycled clothing has found devotees in the likes of Lady Gaga and Beyonce, as well as an innovative art collaboration with Central St Martins in support of the charity Art Against Knives, which works towards reducing knife crime by engaging young people in troubled areas with art and fashion-based workshops. All in all, an exciting and compelling day out, and a fitting finale to a great weekend.

Alongside the show-stopping performances there will be another healthy dose of Lovebox’s summer shenanigans; with the 40 acre site playing host to numerous other stages, performances and activities.

The infamous NYC Downlow also returns to Lovebox for 2010 after a year’s hiatus. This life-size ruin of a NYC tenement will resurrect New York’s golden age and festival-goers can expect to enjoy an eclectic mix of disco, soul, funk and dance.

As well as offering a diverse music experience – the bustling food market, Sourced Market, returns again, serving up culinary treats direct from the best stalls at Borough and Broadway markets. There will also be a broad program of theatre, art and comedy for those wanting to take timeout from the music performances.

Ticket Details

Tickets are available from www.lovebox.net as well as from Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.co.uk) or by calling 08448472436.

Press Contact: For further information on Friday and Saturday please contact: Taylor Herring PR on 0208 2067 5151

LONDON, Tuesday 19th January 2009; She’s used to taking a ring side seat as TV’s fiercest judge, but for one night only, Arlene Phillips hits the dancefloor as she performs alongside finalists from So You Think You Can Dance at the 15th anniversary National Television Awards tomorrow night.

Arlene, a judge on the Saturday night entertainment show, will cement her TV comeback after a very public departure from Strictly Come Dancing last year when she hits the stage at the O2 arena to perform in front of all of TV’s best loved faces, including her former panellists from Strictly.

Arlene, in a stunning Alexander McQueen frock, and her troupe will dance to Christina Aguilera’s hit Aint No Other Man.

Arlene’s on stage appearance comes as the ten remaining finalists from So You Think You Can Dance perform an electrifying routine; with the National Television Awards switching to a new venue and welcoming a new host in Dermot O’Leary, the ceremony will showcase more performances than ever before, with The X Factor stars John and Edward and Joe McElderry also on the bill.

It’s a tense night for the Strictly contingent as they go head-to-head with The X Factor to battle it out for the coveted Most Popular Talent Show award – voting lines close at mid-day on Wednesday 20th January.

The National Television Awards will broadcast live on ITV1 on Wednesday 20th January from 7.30pm.

Double Act In Exclusive National Television Awards Performance

The most talked about act in X Factor history make their eagerly anticipated TV return when teenage twin sensations John and Edward, AKA Jedward, perform exclusively at the 15th anniversary National Television Awards.

The Irish double act, whose charisma-infused dance routines and inimitable hair styles sparked national debate last year, will hit the stage at the 20,000 capacity O2 Arena for their first performance since X Factor, on Wednesday 20th January. The show will be broadcast live on ITV1 from 7.30pm.

John and Edward will be performing in front of the biggest names in British television, at one of Europe’s biggest venues, the O2 Arena.

While details of the track they will be performing remains under wraps, the stage is being set for an entertainment spectacle. The stunning set is being decorated with thousands of Swarovski crystals.

The pair’s legendary X Factor performances included show-stopping versions of Ghostbusters, We Will Rock You and Oops, I Did It Again.

The twin’s performance comes as The X Factor battles it out to be named Most Popular Talent Show, alongside nominees Strictly Come Dancing, Britain’s Got Talent and Dancing on Ice, in one of the Awards’ most hotly contested categories.

Bigger than ever before, the National Television Awards celebrates its 15th anniversary with a move to the O2 Arena and a new host, Dermot O’Leary, who takes the reigns from Sir Trevor McDonald.

To see Jedward live, and join the stars on their big night at the NTAs, call Ticketmaster on 0844 847 2536 or book online at www.theo2.co.uk/nta

For further information, please contact Taylor Herring PR on 020 8206 5151

LONDON, Tuesday 5th January 2010: The giants of the small screen are fighting it out for the ultimate prize – and who takes home an NTA trophy on the biggest TV night of the year is entirely down to YOU.

The final round of voting is now officially open for the biggest-ever National Television Awards (NTA), taking place on Wednesday, January 20 at London’s O2 Arena, hosted for the very first time by Dermot O’Leary, and broadcast live on ITV1 from 7.30 pm. And here are the key battles in which you can help choose the winners:

In the Talent Show category The X Factor takes on Strictly Come Dancing, Britain’s Got Talent, and Dancing On Ice. The X Factor will be looking for revenge after Strictly caused an upset last year by waltzing off with the trophy. But the Subo factor could give Simon Cowell a second chance of silverware with Britain’s Got Talent.

Fans of Ant and Dec have more than one chance to vote for their heroes, with the irrepressible Geordie duo up for no less than three awards, namely Ant And Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway and I’m A Celebrity . . . Get Me Out Of Here! in the Entertainment Programme and the boys themselves as Entertainment Presenters, where they are likely to face stiff competition from Paul O’Grady and first-time NTA shortlisters Holly Willoughby and Michael McIntyre.

The three Davids – Jason (A Touch Of Frost), Tennant (Doctor Who), and Threlfall (Shameless) – gang up on the solitary Philip Glenister (for Ashes To Ashes) in Drama Performance, while The Apprentice squares up to Top Gear in yet another heavyweight clash, this time for Factual Programme.

Throw in Newcomer – where the EastEnders v Coronation Street battle is fought out by Ryan Malloy (Neil McDermott) and Graeme Proctor (Craig Gazey) – and the brand new Star Travel Documentary category that sees Joanna Lumley (In The Land Of The Northern Lights) take on Stephen Fry (In America) in a National Treasure face-off, and it’s clear that the only place to be on January 20 is in the best ringside seat in the house, watching live on ITV1 at 7.30pm.

The spectacular NTA set features thousands crystals by Swarovski – prepare to be dazzled!

How to vote here . . .

Simply go to itv.com/nta to vote for your favourites, or call the special NTA voteline on 0901 888 2009. Calls cost 25p per minute from BT landlines plus a 9p connection charge, while calls from other networks may be higher and calls from mobiles will cost considerably more.*

One lucky member of the audience will become a star for the night! During the ceremony Dermot will be inviting a member of the public up from the audience onto the stage to present a major award. So make sure you are dressed to the nines so that you’ll sparkle in the spotlight.

Vote now, and don’t forget to tune in to ITV1 from 7.30 pm on Wednesday January 20th when new host Dermot O’ Leary helms a spectacular star-studded ceremony to reveal the winners as voted for by YOU!

*Calls should last no longer than 6 minutes and you need to call from a touchtone phone to register your votes. Voting opens at 00.01 on January 5th and closes at midday on 20th January. Multiple vote restrictions apply see Terms and Conditions at www.nationaltvawards.com

For further information, contact Taylor Herring PR on 0208 206 5151

Nick Hornby Heads List Of Authors Set For Big 2010

Ten books that are set to become must-read favourites are today announced as the first titles in a new series of The TV Book Club, due to return to TV screens in January.

Funded by Specsavers, the ten part series screens weekly on More4, with repeats on Channel 4. The new panel of presenters critiquing each week’s chosen title consists of TV personalities Jo Brand, Gok Wan, Laila Rouass, Dave Spikey and Nathaniel Parker.

Launching with Sarah Waters’ The Little Stranger on Sunday 17th January 2010, the rest of the selected titles in transmission order are: Blacklands by Belinda Bauer, Sacred Hearts by Sarah Dunant, Juliet, Naked by Nick Hornby, Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese, The Rapture by Liz Jensen, Brixton Beach by Roma Tearne, The Way Home by George Pelecanos, Wedlock by Wendy Moore, and The Silver Linings Play Book by Matthew Quick.

The authors, a combination of established writers and emerging talents, include Nick Hornby, who features with his latest work Juliet, Naked. Nick is no stranger to literary success, having won global recognition for his award-winning books Fever Pitch and About a Boy, which along with High Fidelity have all been made into high-grossing movies. Meanwhile, The Way Home author, George Pelecanos is a TV and film producer and has written and produced extensively for the cult hit crime-fighting drama, The Wire. Sarah Waters, who has written The Little Stranger, has previously enjoyed success with her books Tipping the Velvet and Fingersmith, winning the South Bank Award for Literature and being named as Author of the Year at the 2003 British Book Awards.

Each week the revived TV Book Club will also feature a major celebrity interview and an author who has been previously selected discussing how the programme impacted on their success. Previous writers that have benefited from featuring on the TV Book Club include Kate Mosse, Victoria Hislop and Cecilia Aherne.

Testament to its undeniable success, previous Book Club entries (from Richard & Judy’s daytime show) have been made into high-grossing movies. Alice Sebold’s best-seller The Lovely Bones is about to go on nationwide cinematic release on 29 January 2010 starring Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz and Susan Sarandon and directed by the Oscar® winning director of The Lord of The Rings trilogy, Peter Jackson, while Cecilia Aherne’s PS I Love You, was released as a motion picture in 2007 starring Hilary Swank and Gerard Butler.

Amanda Ross is the creator and producer of the original and revived TV Book Club and as Managing Director of Cactus TV, which produces the series, has been instrumental in the overwhelming impact it had in its previous guise on Richard & Judy’s daytime show.

Amanda heads up a team of four who trawl through almost 800submissions from Britain’s publishing houses, before whittling them down to an enthralling and entertaining top ten reads. Amanda’s influence in publishing has been recognised both by The Observer Review, where she was named the Most Powerful Person in Publishing 2006 and the Evening Standard, which has named her one of the top 50 Most Influential Londoners.

On this year’s shortlist, Amanda Ross says: “With the new series backed by Specsavers and the public faith in our Book Clubs, we are only too aware of the overwhelming responsibility when choosing the shortlist. But I think this year our recommendations will encourage more people than ever to read along.”

Specsavers marketing director, Richard Holmes says: “Sponsorship of the Crime Thriller Awards in October opened a new chapter for us and so it seemed only natural to continue our relationship with Cactus TV and fund The TV Book Club. The partnership highlights our passion for reading and there’s no doubt that this ten part series with its new format will be even more successful. I believe this great selection of titles will appeal to a wide variety of audiences”.

For more information please contact Taylor Herring PR on 0208 206 5151.

- ENDS -

About Specsavers: Specsavers was founded by Doug and Dame Mary Perkins in 1984 and is now the largest privately owned opticians in the world. The couple still run the company, along with their three children. Their eldest son John is joint managing director. Specsavers has more than 1,340 stores throughout the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Spain and Australia. The group plans to continue its successful international expansion by opening stores in New Zealand. Annual turnover for the Specsavers Group is forecast to reach a record £1.4 billion in 2009. Specsavers was voted Britain’s most trusted brand of opticians for the eighth year running by Reader’s Digest in 2009.

About Cactus TV – Cactus TV is a member of the ALL3MEDIA group and run by husband and wife team Simon and Amanda Ross. Productions include Saturday Kitchen for BBC1, Hairy Bikers Food Tour of Britain for BBC2, Rachel Allen, Galaxy British Book Awards and 8 years of the Richard & Judy show live from Cactus studios.

World Cup Qualifier Is Britain’s Biggest Ever Pay-to-View Internet Sports Broadcast

LONDON, Monday 12th October: Close to half a million football fans watched and earned their place in the history books, as last night’s FIFA World Cup qualifier became Britain’s biggest internet pay-to-view sports broadcast.

There were no technical issues and all customer enquiries were responded to within five minutes. A post match survey found that an average of 87% felt the picture quality was satisfactory or better and 93% were satisfied with the customer support. In a positive sign for future events, 87% said the match offered value for money and 89% would purchase another live sports event online.

In addition to the live stream, international football agency Kentaro struck an 11th hour highlights deal with the BBC, who screened the best moments of the match to viewers after the live internet game had been broadcast.

Odeon cinemas across the country also screened the game via satellite and many were completely sold out. Despite the match not being made available for public or commercial viewing purposes, it is believed pubs up and down the country streamed the match successfully via projectors and by linking computers to TV screens.

Earlier in the week, a special arrangement was made by Kentaro to screen the game to British Armed forces overseas for free. As many troops do not have internet access the game was broadcast into military bases via BFBS Television.

Philipp Grothe, CEO of Kentaro said; “This pioneering broadcast has been a great success. Not only have we delivered Britain’s largest ever live pay-to-view internet sports audience but commercially the venture has proved itself as a viable model for future games. Technology has ignited a revolution in people’s viewing habits and there is a new sports broadcast platform developing on the broadband enabled internet.”

Andrew Croker, Executive Chairman of Perform said: “This was an extremely successful and groundbreaking project. An innovative marketing approach particularly with national newspapers, betting and ISP affiliates meant that we were able to get this out to a broad audience and make it a huge success. Additionally, from a customer service, production and distribution point of view, we felt it went very smoothly.”

Peter Silverstone, Managing Director of Kentaro UK said; “We are indebted to our partner Perform, who have pulled off a technical coup in a few short weeks. Our newspaper, ISP and betting partners have been instrumental in making this venture the success that is. We have been encouraged by the level of debate this has stimulated amongst the sports industry.”

Fans watched the landmark match by registering at www.ukraineVengland.com. Subscriptions were available at an early-bird price of £4.99 rising to a maximum rate of £11.99 for purchases made on the day.

James Richardson presented the live coverage, alongside ex England manager and Notts County Director of Football Sven Goran Eriksson. Commentary came from David Pleat and Tony Jones.

A number of leading national newspapers and internet service providers also made the match available on their own websites. Partners included; The Sun, The Times, News of the World, The Daily Mail, The Daily Telegraph, The Daily Express, The Daily Star, The Independent, Virgin Media and Orange. All websites offered a promotion where the user could watch the match for free if they opened an account with bet365.com, a leading online bookmaker.

The international football agency Kentaro, acquired the broadcast rights from the Ukrainian FA and had sold the game to Setanta in December 2007. However the pay-TV broadcaster went into administration over the summer leaving this key match without a UK broadcaster. With no offers on the table from UK free to air or pay-TV broadcasters Kentaro decided to seek the widest possible online audience, appointing digital sport specialist Perform, to market and stream the match online, on a pay-per-view basis.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to its commercial sensitivity and value no further information or data will be released.

ENDS

LONDON (UK), Monday 5th October 2009: Saturday’s Ukraine Vs England FIFA World Cup 2010 qualifying game will make history as the first England international to be broadcast exclusively over the internet and in cinemas across the UK.

Fans will be able to watch the landmark match live from the Dnipro Arena in Ukraine by registering at www.ukraineVengland.com. Subscription will be available at an early-bird price of £4.99 up until end of play on Wednesday 7th October, increasing during the week to a maximum rate of £11.99 for purchases made on the day.

Pre-match coverage commences at 4.45pm on Saturday 10th October with a special programme charting the Three Lions impressive progress through the tournament to date, exclusive interviews with England players and analysis and insights from studio guests. James Richardson will present the live coverage, alongside ex England manager and Notts County Director of Football Sven Goran Eriksson. Commentary will come from David Pleat and Tony Jones.

A number of leading national newspapers and internet service providers will also make the match available on their own websites to ensure that fans will be able to cheer on the national team. Partners include The Sun, The Times, News of the World, The Daily Mail, The Daily Telegraph, The Daily Express, The Daily Star, The Independent, Virgin Media and Orange who have a cumulative combined monthly user base online of over 20 million in the UK. When combined with Perform’s own online sports network of over 23 million monthly users, the promotion of the match will be the largest online campaign in UK history; one week after the Internet Advertising Bureau announced that spending on internet advertising in the first half of 2009 exceeded that on television for the first time.

The pricing of the match on all partner websites will be the same as on www.ukraineVengland.com and all websites will also offer a promotion where the user can watch the match for free if they open and fund an account with bet365.com, the leading online bookmaker, which already streams over 5,000 live sports events a year to their customers.

The international clash is the toughest competitive match that the national team will face before the World Cup in South Africa next year. England have won all eight of the qualifying games in this campaign – the best ever performance by The Three Lions, scoring 31 goals and conceding just 5 under Coach Fabio Capello. The England squad will be playing for their places in South Africa 2010. The game will also have a key bearing on England’s FIFA and UEFA seeding. For the Ukraine the game is key. They are unbeaten in four straight qualifiers, since losing 2-1 to a late John Terry goal at Wembley in April, and will be playing for their place in South Africa.

The international football agency Kentaro, acquired the broadcast rights from the Ukrainian FA and had sold the game to Setanta in December 2007. However the pay-TV broadcaster went into administration over the summer leaving this key match without a UK broadcaster. With no offers on the table from UK free to air or pay-TV broadcasters Kentaro decided to seek the widest possible online audience, appointing digital sport specialist Perform, to market and stream the match online, on a pay-per-view basis.

Andrew Croker, Executive Chairman of Perform said; “Millions of people around the world follow live sports online and this shows a real sign of the times – we’re extremely excited to be involved in this landmark event.”

Philipp Grothe, CEO of the Kentaro Group said; “Over 20 Million people in the UK regularly use the internet to watch sport. The mainstream adoption of broadband and the growing popularity of online viewing – is now a realistic alternative to old-fashioned TV broadcasting.”

Kentaro have also struck a deal with Arts Alliance Media to screen the game in key cinemas across the country. The deal will include the Odeon Group.

Peter Silverstone, MD of Kentaro UK said; “To support the internet broadcast we will stage big screen events for fans around the country and our partnership with Arts Alliance Media will give thousands of cinema goers the chance to enjoy the key game, en masse.”

Press Contact: Taylor Herring PR - 0208 206 5151

About Online Broadcasting

• Across the Wimbledon 2009 fortnight, the BBC Sport website received a total of 19.3 million requests for Wimbledon audio-visual content (live and on-demand) of which 16.2 million was to live coverage – three-and-a-half times more than for live streams across the 2008 tournament. (Source: BBC Press Office)
• 80.1% of the total U.K. internet audience viewed online video last year (Source: Comscore)
• 92% of people in the UK have a broadband speed of over 2MB. (Source: Internet Advertising Bureau, September 2009)
• Web users made 45m requests to watch TV programmes on the BBC iPlayer in July, 2009 (Source: BBC)
• UK online video viewing approached 5 Billion views in April 2009, up 47 Percent compared to 2008 (Source: Comscore)
• The UK has become the first major economy where advertisers spend more on internet advertising than on television advertising, with a record £1.75bn online spend in the first six months of the year. (Source: Internet Advertising Bureau, September 2009)

About Kentaro: Specialising in the global marketing of national soccer federations, leagues and clubs, Kentaro´s core business is the international acquisition and distribution of premium broadcast rights. Kentaro markets the TV rights for over 250 matches in the build-up to the FIFA World Cup 2010, including 90% of the South American qualifiers. More than 20 federations rely on Kentaro’s unique network and management skills, as do countless top club sides such as Arsenal FC, Chelsea FC and Liverpool FC. Headquartered in Switzerland with branch offices in London, Hamburg, Stockholm and most recently Chicago, the world’s fastest-growing sports rights agency also exclusively organizes all exhibition matches of the Brazil national team.

About Perform: Perform is a leading digital sport business who currently stream over 15,000 live events each year across the internet and provide web, mobile or online video services to 13 official Barclays Premier League and 67 official Coca-Cola Football League club websites. Perform is a world leader in delivering sports content in digital media. The company works with sports rights holders, publishers, bookmakers and media groups and has developed over 230 web, video broadband and mobile sites that serve over 20 million unique users. Perform also works with every major UK publisher group including News International, Trinity Mirror Group, Daily Mail Media Group, Telegraph Media Group and Guardian News and Media Ltd to provide extensive sports video highlights online through the e-Player, reaching over 10 million unique viewers every month. Football clients include Chelsea FC (who recently won the SportsBusiness Ultimate Sports Website Award), the Premier League, Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham, Fulham, Rangers and through Football League Interactive, Perform provide the platform for over 80 clubs. Headquartered in Middlesex London, Perform employs 310 staff and has offices in central London, Holland, Italy, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, India and the USA. In November and December 2008, Perform stepped in when traditional TV deals did not materialise for UEFA Cup away matches featuring Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur, streaming them live on a pay-per-view basis through www.mcfc.co.uk and www.tottenhamhotspur.com.

About James Richardson: James Richardson is famed for his 10-year-role as presenter and anchor of Football Italia. As well as this he appeared frequently alongside Des Lynam as co-presenter of The Friday Football Show and Football Matters on Setanta Sports. He is now the Italian football correspondent for leading publication FourFourTwo.

About Sven-Göran Eriksson: Former England manager Sven-Göran Eriksson is famed for single-handedly raising England’s FIFA World ranking from 17th place to 4th place. The Swedish legend began his career as a low-league defender before becoming a successful manager in the late 1970’s and was named as England’s first foreign manager in 2002 following the resignation of Kevin Keegan. Eriksson spearheaded the international team’s assault on two World Cup tournaments and led them to the quarter finals of Euro 2004. He stepped down from his international post in 2006 before spending a year as manager of Manchester City where he achieved the club’s highest ever Premier League points total. Earlier this year Eriksson was confirmed as Director of Football at Notts County..

About Tony Jones: Tony Jones is an award winning sports reporter and football commentator who has contributed to international and domestic games on ITV, Channel 4, Channel Five and Sky Sports. He has covered broadcasts of crucial tournaments including the FA Cup, UEFA Cup, 2006 World Cup and Euro 2008 as well as live coverage of Serie A in Football Italia. With over 25 years experience in network commentary, Tony Jones is a football veteran with an unrivalled insight that earned him a Royal Television Society award for journalism.

About David Pleat: David Pleat is best known for his roles as manager and Director of Football at North London club Tottenham Hotspur. His management credentials also include stints at Leicester City, Luton Town and Sheffield Wednesday before he settled at Nottingham Forest as a football consultant in 2006. Pleat has since forged a successful career in football commentary and writes regular sports columns for The Guardian and Daily Mail.

Press Launch: 6.30pm, Thursday 17th September at Selfridges, Oxford Street. 

A new conceptual ice cream installation at Selfridges offers visitors the coolest and creamiest fix.

• Date: Open till 1 November 2009
• Location: Selfridges’ Ultralounge (lower ground floor, Oxford Street)
• Master of Cool Innovation: Matt O’Connor, entrepreneur and provocateur

A subversive new ice cream brand, The Icecreamists, will launch at Selfridges’ flagship Oxford Street store this week with a subterranean “God Save The Cream” themed ice cream and entertainment installation in the store’s Ultralounge on the lower ground floor.

The Icecreamists is the ultimate ice cream boutique, offering an array of ‘vice creams’ and guilty pleasures including molecular cryogenic cocktails served at -196C, a Sex Pistol ice cream, artisan ice cream flavours from around the world, pure frozen yogurts and sorbettos; all freshly prepared every morning by a master mixologist.

The Icecreamists is a new concept in ice cream, offering visitors the coolest breakfast on earth, lunchtime licks, afternoon cream tease and an après shopping fix. The decadent installation will also feature live in-house band Jimi Love and The Icecreamists, DJs, dancers and catwalk shows.

The Icecreamists plan to liberate Londoners from what they describe as ‘ordinary ice cream’ – ice cream made with vegetable fat and fake chocolate. As part of the ‘Say No To Ordinary Ice Cream’ Campaign The Icecreamists will run an ice cream amnesty offering shoppers the opportunity to swap their shop bought ice creams for real, freshly made boutique ice cream made that morning in the Selfridges boutique.

Ice cream is the world’s greatest socialising agent. Here are just a few of the things the boutique will be offering:

• Cryogenic Cocktails made with liquid nitrogen and served at your table, including The Icecreamists signature ice cream cocktail, the ‘God Save the Cream’ – a ‘reverse flambé’ served at a blistering -196 degrees

• An exciting menu of sweet and savoury ice creams including The Gordon’s Glory – a 21st century reimagining of the knickerbockerglory and The Sex Pistol - a natural stimulant ice cream served in a glass accompanied by a shot of absinthe in a pink water pistol.

•  The Sundae Lunch, fresh pea sorbet with a hint of mint, beef bouillon and horseradish sorbet with a Yorkshire Pudding crisp and an apple and blackberry crumble gelato.

• The Chocolate Volcano – their exclusive eye-wateringly calorific ‘Diet Destroyer’. This promiscuous little number has led to one-night-stands, life-long romances, affairs and even marriage proposals. So breathtakingly outrageous and immoral it could be banned under the Obscenity Laws. Submit to X-rated molten Belgian chocolate sauce poured onto a mountain of Ecuadorean Dark Chocolate Ice Cream and served with fresh seasonal fruit.

• Artisan ice creams exclusively designed by Italy’s acclaimed gelato master Roberto Lobrano using authentic ingredients from around the world. Gourmet flavours include Tahitian Vanilla, Venezuelan Chocolate, Argentinian Dulce De Leche and North African Spiced Cinnamon.

Matt O’Connor, founder of The Icecreamists, says, “If you thought you knew ice cream, think again. The Icecreamists will liberate the world from ordinary ice cream with our range of exclusive freshly made ice creams and cryogenic cocktails. Chocolate has grown up in recent years, but ice cream has suffered from a poverty of imagination. We hope to change this with the biggest revolution in ice cream since it was first invented.”

Boutique Ice Creams

* Argentinian Dulce De Leche (La Salamandra brand)
* Asian Spiced Ginger
* English Brown Bread
* Gianduia Torino with Chocolate & Hazelnuts
* Hazelnut from Piedmont
* Italian Espresso
* North African Spiced Cinnamon with Sweet Tea
* Pistacchio from Bronte
* Rosewater
* Seasonal Berry Sorbetto with Fortified Wine
* Sorrento Lemon Sorbetto
* Swiss White Chocolate
* Tahitian Vanilla
* Traditional Milk Chocolate
* Twisted Toffee Apple
* Venezuelan Chocolate

Roberto Lobrano

Roberto has been whipping up mouth-watering gelato since he was 11 years old and since then has risen through the ranks of gelati creators to become one of Italy’s top artisans. He has won many awards for his creations including the prestigious Golden Merlin for his Basil Gelato. When not creating ice creams fit for royalty, he spends his time lecturing at the Carpigiani Gelato University near Bologna.

Matt O’Connor

Matt O’Connor is a man who eats, sleeps and breathes ice cream. He has over 20 years experience working with some of ice cream’s biggest brands. Matt relishes a challenge and changing the way we think about frozen deserts is something which comes naturally to him!

About Selfridges

Selfridges is 100 years old in 2009. The actual birthday was on 15 March but the main centenary celebrations are taking place throughout the summer.

• The Ultralounge is in the lower ground floor of Selfridges’ Oxford Street store. It was launched as a dedicated events space in February 2006. Since then it has featured events celebrating Punk; a Brian Eno video arts installation entitled Luminous, a celebration of Surrealism in collaboration with the V&A. Since 2007, the Ultralounge has been showing more art exhibitions including Lattice, an installation by sculptor Conrad Shawcross commissioned by the store; a show called Exactitudes by Dutch artists Air Versus and Ellie Uyttenbroek; or Kay Saatchi’s Anticipation – an exhibition featuring an edit of the work from the most talented emerging artists living in Britain today. All these exhibitions generated a lot of critical and public interest.

• Selfridges: the business was founded by American entrepreneur Gordon Selfridge in 1909 and run by him until he retired in 1940 and took on the role of President. Gordon Selfridge died in 1947. Four years later the business was sold to Lewis’ of Liverpool for £3.4 million.

• In 1965 Charles Clore’s British Shoe Corporation won control of Selfridges in a take-over for £63 million. New developments included the opening of Miss Selfridge.

• In 1998 the company was de-merged from the Sears Group and floated on the London Stock Exchange.

• In 2003 Galen Weston purchased Selfridges. He and his wife Hilary are closely involved with the development and growth of the company and their daughter Alannah is Creative Director.

• In the year ending 31 January 2008, Selfridges’ sales rose by 10 per cent to £655 million and profit grew by 30 per cent to £84.1 million.

• Galen Weston is Chairman of Selfridges and, in January 2004, Allan Leighton was appointed Deputy Chairman.

• Paul Kelly became Chief Executive of Selfridges in February 2004. Before that, Paul was Managing Director of Brown Thomas in Dublin for ten years. He has worked with the Weston family for over 20 years.

• Galen Weston is Chairman of the premier luxury goods company which, as well as Selfridges, includes Holt Renfrew in Canada and Brown Thomas in Ireland.

Check www.selfridges.com for more information.

For further information and images, please contact: Taylor Herring PR – 0208 206 5151

Taylor Herring have been appointed by World Awards Music and Jermaine Jackson to launch the international tribute concert – ‘The Tribute: In Memory of Michael Jackson.’

At a press conference staged at Kensington Palace, London yesterday it was confirmed that Mary J Blige, Sister Sledge, Chris Brown and Natalie Cole are among the stars who will perform at a musical extravaganza in Austria later this month.

The Jackson family are expected to attend the concert, along with an audience of 65,000 fans. The concert will be broadcast live to approximately one billion people worldwide.

Event promoter Georg Kindel said that there would be up to 25 artists performing, including Jermaine, and that further announcements would be made.

The event will be staged on September 26, in front of Schoenbrunn Palace in Vienna, Austria – one of Europe’s grandest palaces.

Performers will cover Jackson’s greatest hits at the concert, which organisers are billing as the main tribute event to the late King of Pop.

Jermaine also hinted that the gig will see him utilise special technology to perform a virtual duet with his late brother.

Jermaine Jackson said the evening would be a “very special tribute” to his brother’s “unforgettable music, as well as shedding light on this wonderful humanitarian…Michael would have loved this event because he was fascinated by castles and palaces – their elegance, history and legends,”

Actress Angela Bassett is also set to make an appearance, as well as German boy-band US5 and Senegalese-American singer Akon.

Tickets for THE TRIBUTE and further information available via the Official Website www.tribute2009.com