MasterCard Brings PayPass To BRIT Awards 2008
MasterCard marked the 10th year of its sponsorship to The BRIT Awards by bringing contactless payments to London's Earls Court for the very 1st time. MasterCard issued a limited edition BRIT Awards MasterCard Prepaid PayPass card to more than 5,000 attendees for use at the UK's most prestigious music event.
John Bushby, GM, MasterCard Northern Europe commented, "Our association with The BRIT Awards is the longest-running music sponsorship in the world and the flagship asset of MasterCard's music and entertainment platform. As contactless payments gather momentum across UK, the high visibility of this event makes it the ideal showcase for how the speed and convenience of ‘Tap&Go’ PayPass payments can revolutionise the consumer experience at major concert venues, where people simply don't have the time or inclination to queue."
PayPass is the new faster, more convenient and safe way to pay for everyday small purchases of US$20 (£10) or less. Easy to use, this “contactless” feature can be added to any MasterCard credit, debit or prepaid card, or Maestro debit card, providing a secure alternative to notes and coins. A PayPass tap takes less than a second. To pay, consumers simply need to tap the card against a specially equipped PayPass reader, removing the need to insert the card, enter a PIN or fumble for change.
Prepaid is one of the most rapidly growing sectors in the payments industry, with total spend on prepaid cards in UK estimated to reach US$34 billion by the end of 2010. Their popularity is driven by the financial freedom they offer to cardholders, who can access the security, convenience and global acceptance of a payment card simply by purchasing it over the counter, without needing to link it to a bank account. The combination of prepaid with PayPass at The BRIT Awards 2008 with MasterCard will allow consumers to experience 2 of the most innovative new ways to pay for everyday small items.
For one night only, Earls Court will be fully PayPass-enabled. The prepaid contactless cards, each pre-loaded with US$19.83 (£9.99), can be used by table ticket holders to purchase the “BRITs Hits” album on a branded USB stick from 1 of 4 kiosks located on the ground floor. Balcony ticket holders will be able to use their Prepaid PayPass card to purchase a “meal deal” or “drink deal” from the 2 bars terminalised on the 2nd floor balcony level.
The BRIT Awards 2008 with MasterCard was the 28th year of the awards, which have raised more than US$16 million (£8 million) for the BRIT Trust charity. Presented by the world's favourite rock 'n' roll couple, Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne, and broadcasted live on ITV1, this year's show included 13 awards, including the Best British Album award sponsored by MasterCard. |
