BT to sponsor Isle of Wight Music festival
 

BT has announced that is to be the primary sponsor for one of the UK's biggest annual musical highlights, The Isle of Wight Festival. The 2008 festival will be known as the Isle of Wight Festival in association with BT.

The high profile deal with festival organisers SOLO, will allow BT to promote its involvement via its voice, broadband and vision products and use its branding across the 250 acre festival site, as well as the use of other promotional materials such as competitions, events and an official BT chill-out zone. This is the first time in its history that BT has been involved in the sponsorship of an event of this kind. The 50,000 tickets for the three day event are now officially sold out. However as part of its promotional activity, BT is will be offering the public a last chance to buy tickets for the festival. Details will be announced shortly. Headliners This year's festival is playing home to some of the biggest acts on the planet with confirmed headliners The Kaiser Chiefs, Sex Pistols and The Police. Also appearing throughout the weekend is Grammy Award nominee Lily Allen, Q Award "Best New Act" winners The Enemy, Brit Award winners of Best British Female Solo KT Tunstall and Kate Nash, legendary punk rockers Iggy and The Stooges, Manchester maverick Ian Brown plus the Kooks, N.E.R.D. and James. A host of the hottest newcomers have also been confirmed, including Brit nominees the Hoosiers and Scouting for Girls. Gavin Patterson, BT's group managing director for Consumer, enthused about the new deal: "This is a proud first for BT. Being associated with an event like this   reflects how BT has transformed as a business and has become an established player in the world of multi-media entertainment with new services like our next generation TV service BT Vision." Festival organiser John Giddings added: "We are very excited to form a partnership with one of the world's leading brands. Their involvement will benefit the audience experience in a number of ways, yet to be revealed. Here's to a successful 2008!' Now in its seventh year since its reincarnation in 2002, the Isle of Wight Festival is undoubtedly one of the most distinctive and well-loved festivals on the calendar - scooping the two UK Festival Awards for Best Major UK Festival and Outstanding Contribution to Festivals. The Isle of Wight Festival takes place 13th - 15th June at Seaclose Park, Newport, Isle of Wight.