NEWS FROM VIRGIN MEDIA

‘You Beauty!’ says Branson

Virgin boss revels following Lord’s victory and Virgin Media charity incentive

As England celebrate the first win in this year’s Ashes, Virgin chief Richard Branson has praised the team and their ‘bonza’ performance following the stunt that riled Australians and saw him appear on the Sydney Harbour Bridge before the first test, to help launch Virgin Media’s ‘Fifty50’ charity initiative.

The company has already pledged £8,000 to charity following the first two Ashes tests in Cardiff and at Lord’s, where England finally beat Australia for the first time in 75 years.

The unique initiative will see the UK’s leading broadband provider donate £1,000 to charity every time an England batsman scores a half century during the series, to celebrate the national roll-out of it’s ultrafast 50Mb broadband service.

Delighted with the team’s performance to date, cricket fan Richard Branson said; “You beauty! What a bonza performance by England’s boys - I’m absolutely over the moon that we took the second test at Lord’s. England put in a fantastic performance and the team have already reached eight half centuries to date, raising £8,000 for charity in the process through Virgin Media’s ‘Fifty50’ initiative. It seems that our little stunt in Sydney has riled the Australian team by putting pressure on them, whilst our charity incentive has equally spurred on the England team. All I can say is once again, good luck at Edgbaston Ricky…you’ll need it!”

Following England’s draw in Cardiff and superb win at Lord’s this week, no fewer than five England players have already reached the half century milestone on eight separate occasions:

Kevin Pietersen, who scored 69 in the first innings of the Cardiff test will see £1,000 donated to children’s charity Barnardo’s;
Matt Prior who ran in 56 in the first test and 61 in the second raised £2,000 for his chosen charity;
Paul Collingwood who has managed three half centuries to date in the series, racking up 64 and 74 runs in the first test and 54 at Lord’s, raising £3,000 to be split between Marie Curie and Chance to Shine;
Alistair Cook, who managed an impressive 95 in the second test raising £1,000 for Young Lords Taverners; and
Captain Andrew Strauss, whose unforgettable 161 in the first innings of the second test

The unique ‘Fifty50’ scheme will run throughout The Ashes and will see Virgin Media donate to a selection of good causes favoured by the England players. Launched by former England skipper and Yorkshire player Michael Vaughan, the charity donations will go to each English batman’s chosen charity, every time he scores 50 runs or more in a single innings, throughout the series.


To find out more about Virgin Media’s 50Mb service, visit www.virginmedia.com/50


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Media Contacts

Frank PR, 0207 693 6999 or virginmedia@frankpr.it


Notes to Editors


Terms and Conditions


Virgin Media will donate £1,000 for every England player who scores 50 runs or more in a single innings
One charity per player is permitted which should be communicated to Virgin Media before the end of the series.
The prize is non-transferable, and there is no alternative.
Virgin Media reserves the right at its sole discretion to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the initiative or amend these terms and conditions where reasonably necessary.

About Virgin Media

With almost 10 million customers, Virgin Media is the UK's first quad-play provider of broadband, TV, phone and mobile.

The company is one of the largest residential broadband providers in the UK, using a unique fibre optic cable network to deliver next generation ultrafast internet access of up to 50Mb to just over half of all homes. Combined with a high speed ADSL service and mobile broadband products, Virgin Media is able to offer broadband internet access to virtually the entire country.

Virgin Media has the UK’s most advanced TV on demand service and is the only TV platform to carry BBC iPlayer. It is the second largest provider of pay TV, was the first to launch a high definition TV service and offers a high-specification, HD-ready V+ personal video recorder.

The company operates the most popular virtual mobile network in the UK which, when launched, was the world’s first such mobile phone service. It is also one of the largest fixed-line home phone providers in the country.

Virgin Media also owns Virgin Media Television (VMtv) which runs eight entertainment channels, including Virgin1, LIVING, Bravo and Challenge. VMtv is a 50 per cent joint partner with BBC Worldwide in UKTV, which consists of ten channels including Dave, G.O.L.D., Watch and Alibi.

With operations based entirely in the UK, Virgin Media Inc. is listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market (VMED).

For more information, go to www.virginmedia.com

NEWS FROM HONEY MONSTER FOODS

Honey Monster goes Bananas for new cereal

Mums beware – Honey Monster is introducing his most a-peel-ing cereal yet - Banana Puffs! Based on the much loved Sugar Puffs the new banana flavoured cereal is part of the big furry fella’s mission to put fun and excitement back into breakfast time.

Banana Puffs, which is the first ever limited edition cereal to be produced by Honey Monster Foods, is set to hit shelves across the UK from August. Designed with kids in mind the new cereal not only tastes great but contains no artificial flavours, colours or preservatives and is fortified with vitamins and iron so Mums can rest assured their bunch are getting everything they need.


Honey Monster, who will be appearing on the packaging for Banana Puffs, said: “Everyone knows I love Sugar Puffs, but it’s a little known fact that I love bananas too. I’ve been known to eat a whole bunch at once, sometimes without even peeling them – I am a monster after all! I’m really excited about my new flavour Puffs and can’t wait for everyone to try them. If you like the taste of Bananas as much as me then you’ll love Banana Puffs – they’ll be right up your tree!”

Jane James, Head of Marketing at Honey Monster Foods said: “Many children still skip breakfast so Honey Monster is striving to make it a more enjoyable time for families by getting kids excited about the most important meal of the day, whilst striking a balance between what kids are happy to eat and what parents are happy to feed them.”

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Notes to Editors

For further information, images and to arrange interviews contact:
Frank PR on 0207 693 6999 or honeymonster@frankpr.it

For more information on Honey Monster Foods visit www.hmfoods.co.uk

NEWS FROM VIRGIN MEDIA

Branson winds up the Aussies with the ultimate sledge

Virgin Media tycoon beams himself onto Sydney Harbour Bridge

Richard Branson has thrown down the gauntlet to the Australian nation by beaming a tongue-in-cheek image of himself onto one of Australia’s most iconic landmarks, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, to mark the start of the Ashes series.

The image, referencing Australia captain Ricky Ponting and featuring Branson’s face painted with a St George’s Cross, was unveiled in the shadow on the famous Sydney Opera House with the slogan “Good luck Ricky. You’ll need it. Dicky x” to promote Virgin Media’s ‘Fifty50’ campaign, designed to spur England on as they fight to win The Ashes this summer. The company has pledged to donate £1,000 to charity for every England batsman who scores a half century during the series to celebrate the national roll-out of the broadband provider’s ultrafast 50Mb broadband service.

Richard Branson said: “I love Australia and I know that the Aussies are always up for a spot of light-hearted banter, especially when it comes to The Ashes. Every Australian I know wants to stuff us in the upcoming series and I wanted to do my bit to encourage the England team in the hope that they can win the Ashes this time round.”

Laurinda Rio-Copeland, who lives in Sydney but is originally from London, was passing by as the image was beamed onto the bridge. She said: “I have had so many Aussies rib me about England’s defeat in the last series, telling me how we are going to get beaten again. I think this image is really funny and it’s nice to see the Aussies being on the receiving end for a change.”

The unique ‘Fifty50’ scheme will run throughout The Ashes and will see Virgin Media donate to a selection of good causes favoured by the England players. Launched by former England skipper and Yorkshire player Michael Vaughan, the charity donations will go to each English batman’s chosen charity, every time he scores 50 runs or more in a single innings, throughout the series.

To find out more about Virgin Media’s 50Mb service, visit www.virginmedia.com/50


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