Press release: TEAMtalk media invests close to its heart

8 March 2010 – TEAMtalk media, the leading digital sports content producer in South Africa and BSkyB subsidiary, has kicked off 2010 with a set of social investments in two projects close to the company’s heart: sport and media.

The media company has renewed its sponsorship of the Helderberg Cricket Development Centre, which introduces underprivileged children in the Somerset West area to cricket. It has also continued its support for the University of Cape Town’s Media School, a media training and community development programme.

The Helderberg Cricket Development Centre (HCDC)

The HCDC has basically introduced the game of cricket to underprivileged learners in the Helderberg area and in three short years has seen some astonishing results. Founded by Craig Melvill and Matthew Knott, the organisation provides learners with professional cricket lessons after school, including transport to the training area, cricket paraphernalia and refreshments.

Originally working with Umnqophiso Primary School and Somerset West Methodist Primary School, the HCDC has included Kanyolwethu High School in the programme this year to allow learners who have left primary school to continue with the coaching programme. Since inception, the initiative has seen some of its beneficiaries win places in local and regional cricket sides.

TEAMtalk media’s continued sponsorship in 2010 has allowed the HCDC to extend the programme to high school learners.

“Cricket never existed in the Lwandle area, and last year Umnqophiso played their first ever match. A few of the boys have improved to the extent that they play for the local club’s (Somerset West CC) respective A sides,’ said HCDC’s Craig Melvill. “Without TEAMtalk media’s ongoing support, we wouldn’t have achieved these amazing results so quickly.”

The Media School

The Media School, run under the auspices of NPO Ubunye, was started by UCT’s Varsity Newspaper in 2005 and is staffed by volunteer students from the university. The school runs after-school journalism courses in three disadvantaged Philippi schools to give learners the chance to gain skills to enter the job market, as well as support personal development. It also aims to uplift communities through encouraging an awareness of the world around them.

According to the director, Jacqui Watson, the project has developed into more than journalism and media training though. “We began as a project hosting workshops, but now we are a sustained community outreach programme which runs throughout the year,” said Watson.

The Media School runs weekly workshops at the nominated schools and the sponsorship from TEAMtalk media will be used to cover the printing costs for a school newspaper that was launched in August last year. In addition to the workshops, The Media School also arranges internships and excursions to local media companies where learners can gain additional experience and further their interest in the media.

“We are delighted to continue to support both these worthy causes,” said Barrie Jarrett. “Giving back something to two areas that everyone at TEAMtalk media is obviously passionate about – sport and media – means we are all very proud of our involvement with HCDC and The Media School.”

TEAMtalk Media will also continue its support of the Salvation Army and the Emasithandane Children’s Project in 2010.

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ABOUT TEAMtalk media

One of South Africa’s leading digital content producers, TEAMtalk media creates sports content for radio, print, online, TV and mobile – providing quality content for the Sky network of sports sites, which reaches 25 million unique readers, as well as its media syndication partners.

Its network includes: Sky Sports, Sporting Life, Sport365, Football365, Golf365, Cricket365, Extreme 365, Oddschecker, Planet Rugby, Planet F1, and football365.co.za. Additional offerings are: Sky News, Sky News Radio, Sky Text.

f365.co.za, the mobile version of popular local football site football365.co.za was selected as a finalist in the mobile publishing category for the 2009 Bookmark Awards, which rewards online excellence.

The company consists of four main business units: editorial, mobile, an award-winning customer support service, and ad campaign management. TEAMtalk Media’s South African editorial team – which works in tandem with the UK team – is comprised of seasoned sports journalists who are leaders in their respective fields.

The mobile division of TEAMtalk Media generates cutting edge sports graphics, ring tones, animations and a host of additional bespoke mobile entertainment content, for use by the internal network of sites as well as for syndication.

TEAMtalk Media is a proud division of British Sky Broadcasting.

For more information visit: www.teamtalkmedia.co.za

Issued by TWOKATS COMMUNICATIONS on behalf of TEAMtalk media

For more info:

Contact: Vanessa Clark
Tel: 082 335 1117
Email: vanessa.clark@twokats.com